MR FREDRIC MAKES ASSERTIONS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 20, 23 January 1914, Page 5

MR FREDRIC MAKES ASSERTIONS.

[To r Editor Stratford Post.]

Sir, —After noting Cr. Walter’s actions over the granting of a. license to the Stratford Electrical Supply Co, it appears to me that he has not looked at this question from a high point of view. He thinks that it is quite reasonable to barter the rights of the people to a private company in order that the ratepayers may be exploited. Surely Cr. Walter’s first duty is to protect the people’s 'rights, and his excuse for not doing so is that he assumes the County ratepayers are going to get i special benefit. He knows well that the Stratford Electrical Supply Co. are,going to benefit, and he also knows that the Stratford ratepayers are going to suffer, or they would not protest. The Stratford ratepapers have paid 7d per unit for sixteen years in face of the strides electricity has made, and have no hope of reduction if the Company gets a 42 years’ extension. His argument that the Borough forced the abattoirs on to the County is paltry and childish, because the Borough did not force the County to give up their lights to a private company to run the abattoirs for profit. Cr. Walter knows well that the profits of this concern are returned to the people. This is a very different proposition to that which Cr. Walter desires. If he succeeds in his endeavors to get the Supply Co.’s license extended, the Company take all the profit. His prohibition argument is most peculiar; his ideas are that the County ratepayers may destroy a .monopoly and yet we find him doing his utmost to extend one. Cr. Walter is anxious 'to send the petition to the Minister of Public "Works. Surely he knows that the County ratepayers were canvassed by the Chairman and one of the Directors of the Electrical Supply Co., and therefore that petition cannot be a voluntary demand from the County for the extension. I can inform Cr. Walter that the petition was exhibited at Cardiff for voluntary signatures and not one ratepayer signed it. I will assert that if a petition binding the County ratepayers to take the current was exhibited for voluntary signatures in the County Council office, not twenty County ratepayers would sign. I feel sure if Cr. Walter would attempt to satisfy himself about the number of ratepayers who would really take current, ho would find the motive of the petition.—l am, etc..

J. FREOPIC