MR BOON'S EXPLANATION ON THE LIGHTING QUESTION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 99, 29 April 1915, Page 2

MR BOON'S EXPLANATION ON THE LIGHTING QUESTION.

[To The Editor Stratford Post.] Sir,—f think in your report of my address hi the Town Hall in your is. sue of April 28th, my attitude on the lighting question is not clear, and hy your permission 1 will state it hriet--I*l v. .Messrs Climip'aud Sons (experts) recommend 230 volts as the up-to-date .voltage and as recommended hy the New Zealand Hoard of Trade. At present it is 100 volts. But to arrange the 100 volts to get the same result as 280 volts, it would cost £2IOO more. It would cost to change the voltage as follows:—Lamps in houses and (streets, £800; motors and heaters, j £400; and if £BOO will do all rewiring j | necessary to private consumers, then ! the change would cost £2OOO, All (things being equal, I would recommend the change. Before this is decided it will be necessary to have the .houses tested by the Fire Underwritjoes’ Association. We are all agreed that Stratford wants an up-to-date lighting system as soon as possible, 'and under the control of the Borough Council, and these are the terms I recommend : The Borough Council take over the Diesel engine and all plant ■and appliances that are suitable for a standardised plant, as recommended hy the. Council’s adviser, and also all materials which are not suitable, hut j which are useful to the Council at their commercial value, after allowing i for dismantling, the price to he paid jto he decided hy arbitration. If tho arbitrators cannot agree, then the Council to take tho necessary steps to have a new plant ready for generating its own current and lighting the town at the expiry of the concession. That means the present Council will ho asked to bring down a scheme for tho 'sanction of a loan hy the ratepayers after consideration hy the full Council, when all particulars will then be made | public.—l am. etc., I J. W. BOON.