LIGHT FOR THE COUNTY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 85, 14 August 1913, Page 3

LIGHT FOR THE COUNTY.

ELECTRIC LINE EXTENSION. CONCESSION TO THE COMPANY

At Yesterday's mccOng of the County Council a letter was read from the manager of the Stratford Electrical Supply Co., who stated that the company had received applications to extend their lines to Midhirst, Ngaere, Toko, up the Pembroke Road and down Warwick Road, but owing to their area being limited to three miles from the Stafford Post Office, they were unable to make the suggested extensions. After the luncheon adjournment, Messrs, R. Masters and Cameron waited on the Council in reference to the matter. Mr Masters said the extension would be in the interests of the county ratepayers as well as of the Company. He had with him a list of people who had asked for extension of the lines, some of whom were dairy famers who wished to have power to drive milking machines. The Company had the sole right in the Eorough for seven years, and they asked for an open right indefinitely in the county. If the Council felt so disposed they could ) grant a right for a term, with right I of renewal. There was.a heavy expense in putting up lines, .which cost £1.50 a mile. Tito Company :was prepared to guarantee that county ratepayers would he charged no more than Borough consumers. If the county decided on public lighting for any of fife townships ; the Company would supply current at 6d per unit —the price charged the Stratford Bor* OUgll Coillfcil. -i) ’<-r i L ‘ Mr Masters then read a requisition from 17 residents on Warwick Road, asking for extension of the wires. Or. Walter: Are' these people outside your radius? Mr Masters : They arh outside the Borough. ’

Mr Cameron said tho consumers needed protection no less than the Company. It would probably cost £6O when a settler installed a motor for his milking machine and had his house wired, and settlers would not go to sucji an expense if they had not a guarantee that thdy would he able, to have tho power for . some t'ermL b .C

Cr. Walter: I believe yon’have an agreement! with the Borough .Council to extend the linos whereba'reason Able number desfrei'U) have current? . WiuW tho Company make a similar agreement with ithte County’? Mr Gamero{i r said there y might be* difficulty' in tbit mattcW-U-in -the County there wo sc not ’therdehsityl of population! heio-was in theidtofough. Cr. Walter explained that the number which should ho held to be “reasonable” should b© defined in the agreemneff. ’ '**

Mr Masters'said tho Company would not object to such a condition.

CL..WaU®i asked if'the* Company would object jttf' W gi*?ihg' : the Council tho jpbTß*t& to ■ fia’kk* titter the Company’s bjisincss at any time, the price to beehjced by arhjtotifln. IHe, said that the Council should Have some meau4,of keeping tho Cdropahy Up to the mark. There was a possibility that tho Company might take the lines merely lo places, where there were .highly profitable customers, neglecting tiro claims of other consumers. .Mr Cameron: Wo might/lie.agree* able, provided you gave,us the sole right in tho county for a term of ton years. After considerable discussion the following motion was passed:—

That the consent- of this Council he given to the erection of poles and jother means of carrying lines for conveying electric energy from the Company’s forks 'to all parts of the county on the county roads, the right not to he a sole right hut to be in j perpetuity, the conditions to be,that, electrical energy shall be supplied to I all such ratepayers at such places in| tho county and to tho Council itself from time to time ns shall hp. agreed upon between tho Council and , the Company, or failing agreement as shall he decided by arbitration as being reasonable, cost of .arbitration, tp ho paid by the loser, the . price for electrical energy to at no time .exceed that charged to the customers of tho Company within tho borough of Stratford or in any case at not exceeding f)d with 2d discount per Board of Trade unit for lighting, and £9 per annum per one horse-power or at 4d per unit with discount of Id per Board of Trade unit, with a minimum of 4s per horse-power per month, the voltagel' to ho up to the standard fixed by the Public Works Department or other authority regulating the same, the hours of supply to ho continuous, the Council to have the right to take over the Company’s buildings,, plant, material and works, situated within the boundaries of the county at any time after twenty-one years from the date of formal consent after twelve months’ previous notice in writing at the price fixed,in case of disagreement by arbitration, TJio'Company to pay the costs of tho Council in the Company’s 'pro-

sent application and in any consent nr other proceedings arising therefrom from time to time, tho'Company to indemnify tho Council from any loss or damage arising from the exorcise by the Company of the right hereby given.