A COUNTY OPINION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 15, 17 January 1914, Page 5

A COUNTY OPINION.

ELECTRICITY AFTER THE STORM.

[To Titk Editor Stratford Post.] Sir, —While speaking to the Mayor last Tuesday lie mentioned that he and his were very keen to bring me into this 'newspaper controversy, so I will | oblige him and giro my view 'of the County side. TJio Mayor says the question is a, purely (business one. I quite agree with him; iso let us put on one side all the foolish talk about “lingering each other’s pie,” and “forcing on to your neighbour things he doesn’t want,” etc,, as v.c all know it has to be done continually in this progressive age. Probably the country will force prohibition over the Borough before long, and even the Borough forced something on a largo number of County, residents they did not want when they built the abattoirs, and although the residents strongly protested, the Borough took no notice, because they thought it good for the district. As the Borough could not get abattoirs without including a large .area of the County we believe we cannot got a strong electrical concern in the County unless the Borough and County am worked under one license. Whether the Company or Borough, or County and Borough,combined, have the license is only a secondary consideration to mo as long as fair terms to all are embodied in it. I would prefer the latter, as I believe it quite workable. Up to the present the Borough will have nothing to do with the County, as they will not give us anything definite as to how the County will he treated in the event of the Borough obtaining a license and the Company closing down. How can the County Council change its attitude when they have such a good offer for the' County residents from the Company, if they obtain the license applied for? Mr Kirkwood, in effect, says that they am trying ot make - a cat’s paw of the County Council. If offering us exceptionally good terms for the County is making a cat’s paw of us I do not think we would mind being made a cat’s paw of by the Borough. Prominent business ijien whom I have spoken to on the subject,and Borough Councillors who have no connection with the Company, agree with me that for many business reasons the County and the Borough should'be combined under the one license., : Xp County Councillor as yet is optimistic enough to advocate the County starting to supply current if the Company ceases: therefore duty compels us to study the needs of our constituents, many of whom have already gone to the expense of connecting with the Company’s wires, while many others are keenly anxious to do so if it were possible, so that unless the Borough conies forward with something definite, it is impossible to do otherwise than support the Company’s application for the license. County Councillors are cute enough to know that now is the time to get favorable terms for their constituents from the Borough; they would have a poor chance of getting good terms after the Company finished. Naturally Mr Kirkwood must expect me to doubt his statement about Councillors changing their views, especially after Cr. Richards’ last letter, the following portion of which T would like them to consider: “The license does not provide for the Borough or County to purchase a portion of the works within its own area only, and consequently the impossible necessity to operate in the County would he imposed on the Borough.” Some Borough Councillors are very eager to make us believe they are doing nothing to hinder the County from getting light and power. Evidently they must think supplying the County alone a profitable investment, and if so how much more profitable would it be in conjunction with the Borough, while the indirect benefit to the Borough of a progressive concern operating over the County, supplying cheap power and light would be immense, and- would surely make up tenfold any slight difference, if any, of the cost of current to Borough consumers.

Before finishing, 1 would like to compare two statements from Borough representatives. The Mayor: “The Council do not wish to take ovdr the Company’s plant hy arbitration; the desire of the Council and the majority of the ratepayers is to allow the present concession to run out, and to then take such action as may he deemed in the best interests of the ratepayers.” That statement means absolute stagnation in the extension of electrical current over a progressive district like jthis for nearly six years in the Boriough, and an indefinite period in the [County. I caftnot believe the majority of the Borough ratepayers wish that. Surely some arrangement can be fixed up with the Company as to what plant the Borough are willing to take over at valuation at the end of the concession so as to encourage the Company to extend to the best 'of their ability wherever needed. Arbitration is the spirit of the present, and no Company would extend in like circumstances unless they had an assurance of some value for their plant at the end of the term. After the Mayor’s statement it is pleasing to read Cr. Moi •ison’s : “He was not sure hut that it would he a good idea for the Borough and County to combine to take over the Company’s undertaking. He thought it would eome to that in the end. That was the host way of securing the greatest good to the greatest number. He was not in favor of taking the plant for nothing. He believed in taking the plat at valuation.” Surely this statement has a hotter business tone than the last; better for (he Borough, County, and. everyone concerned, I agree with Cr. Moris on to

give no goodwill, but the assurance that their plant will be taken at valuation would encourage the Company to keep their plant up-to-date, and they would not be afraid to extend right up to the end of their term. The better service would give more satisfaction and do away with a lot of unpleasantness. Thanking you in anticipation.—"lam, etc., EDWARD WALTER.