LET THESE BE LIGHT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 100, 1 September 1913, Page 5

LET THESE BE LIGHT.

THE COUNTY CONCESSION.

SYNDICATE AND COUNCIL,

[To The Editor Stratford Post.]

Sir, —-Mr G. A. Marchant deserves tlie host thanks of the County ratepayers for the note of warning iie has sounded in the matter of the concession which the County Council proposes to grant the Stratford Electrical Syndicate. Notwithstanding the fact of the Council having passed an affirmative resolution dealing with the proposal,-it is not yet too late to furtncr consider the question. It is an astounding assumption of the powers they possess for the County councillors who now hold office to lay down the dictum per medium of a resolution that the County will 1)0 committed for all time to a concession granted a private company, and for which no consideration whatever lias been asked or received; further, it is all the more astounding from reading ihe press report of the proceedings that the Council appeared to be unanimous in supporting the resolution. It is safe to assume that if the resolution in favor of the concession is given effect to, there will bo a new set of councillors to deal with County matters after- the next County election. Taking for granted that councillors were anxious to have electrical energy supplied to County ratepayers, this could have been achieved by granting a concession terminating, as suggested by Mr Marchant, with the Borough concession. Possibly, having now got the cue, the Syndicate may say they are not prepared to work under such a concession, and should they take up this attitude, then 1 say no concession whatever should he granted them. In twenty-one years’ time, tho period which must elapse before the County would have the right to take over the undertaking (and the goodwill might he any amount), the whole question of supplying electrical energy may he revolutionised to the extent that it is impossible to say hew a concession as is proposed to he granted to the Electrical Syndicate, may he affected. To my mind, "right in perpetuity” should not have been menj tier'd in the resolution, nor the Con-ors.-hn for so long a time as twentyone years, and if the,Council does the right thing, pause will he given before proceeding further. Trusting thatthe right course will yet ho taken.— I am, etc.,

' “PRtJDEXS PUTURI.” .Stiyitftjrd, September. 1913.