THE LIGHTS OF STRATFORD

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 38, 15 June 1915, Page 7

THE LIGHTS OF STRATFORD

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION. At last night’s meeting of tlio Borough Council the Lighting Committee brought flown the following report : Your Committee beg to report that in accordance with the power granted by the Council, instructions have been given to have the street light shifted from opposite Mr R. H. Robinson s, Broadway North, to Craig Street. We have also to report that the present contract with the Electrical Supply Company For street lighting expires on 80th inst. We recommend, that m arrangement be made with the ComI pany to pay for street lighting in , future per meter reading, and that ; the lamps be lit only from sunset to 1 a. m. ! Cr Lawson asked if the Council had considered the cost as against £8 lOs per light as at present. It appeared to him that the cost would be more. From sunset to 1 a.m. was about eight hours, and a large number of units were used. Cr Lawson considered tile matter should be held over until the time that the Company’s agreement expired on the 30th, and see what arrangement could he cOmo to for continuation of the term.

Cr Young said the Council would be making a great saving.

The Mayor said it would be a saving of over £SO per annum by turning the lights off at one o’clock. Cr Hunter: Does it mean that the power-house would turn off the light. The Mayor: No.

Cr Hunter asked what inducement the Company would have to continue running.

I Cr Young: “Our forefathers have seen to that.”— (Laughter).

| The Clerk explained that that matter was assured in the original

! agreement. , i Cr Hunter said he did not think the scheme would effect a saving, and at any rate it looked like a step-hack to turn off the light at one o’clock, it would be, almost, an aid to tires, robberies, and everything else in the town.

Cr Mills asked who would turn off the light at one o’clock.—(The Mayor: The Company)—“And are we sure they would do so?” continued Cr Mills. “We will have to pay. Cr Young said it would he in the power of the Council to alter the arrangement. The real motive was to instal the meter instead of paying a

lump sum. i Cr Hancock suggested it would be better to consult the Company and find out what arrangements could he come to, and what prjce they would be prepared to do the street lighting for. The Mayor said the position was that the Council must deal with it now or call a special meeting. If the ,Council wished they could light up all night. The Council was not concern'ed about the "Company. B f * i Cr Hunter: You claim that meter--1 reading would cost the Council less | than the contract price even if it was on all night?—Yes. Cr Lawson objected to cutting off the light at one o’clock, but was in favour of an all-night system. I Cr YouiijV pointed out that there would he a saving of 10s of 12s per light on what the Committee had

brought forward. | The Mayor, in reply to a question, stated there would be only one meter for the street lighting. I Cr Lawson moved as an amendment .'that the lights be run all night. Seconded by Cr Hunter. Cr Rutherfurd said the recommendation should be given a trial. In reply to Cr Mills, the Mayor said the Lighting Committee had not conferred with the Company. Cr Thompson said the recommendation was not necessarily a step hack- | ward. i It might be for doctors and ! others, but the fact remained that the I same course was followed in other towns. He believed there would be a greater saving than £SO. It was absolutely in, their own hands and they could deal with the Company afterwards. The Mayor stated that in Feilding the light was cut off at 11 o’clock, put on again at two o’clock for trains, and then cut off afterwards. The amendment was then put and lost, and the motion was carried. THE STRATFORD LIGHT. At a later stage in the evening Cr Thompson moved that the Electrical Supply Company be approached on the probable purchase of the Company’s business, and if it be agreeable that the whole Council be a special lighting committee to deal with the question. Past Councils had been talking about the light for sometime, and he brought up the question so as to bring it to a head. The present Council had no cliques—he did not infer that others had—but this Council was unanimous that something should be done for the betterment of the town, especially in

the matter nf Urn electric I'g.ht. Th*r6 liatl boon schemes to purchase other plants, hut be did not think such a thing was possible even il they could <ret a license. C’r Thompson said his object was to open up the question. The Council 'should «u with an open mind and see what they could get from the Company and what they ! wanted. The Council was not bound to the Company or the Company to the Council. . Cr Lawson seconded the motion.

Cr Hunter said he was going to move in the same direction, but Cr Thompson had got ahead of him. His reason for moving that the old Council’s recoinemndation be rescinded was that their hands might be perfectly free. He believed if the Council owned its own lißht it would make enough to pay the interest on the loan to purchase* it and also a loan for drainage and channelling and curbing. He was perfectly satisfied of that according to his own figuring out of the position, and he believed the facts would hear him out. Ho believed that if the Council went to the public with a united front and leave wrangling alone the three propositions might be carried, which would be a great advantage to the town. He wanted to see the question settled, because when that was done they would be able to settle others. The three questions could be settled this year very easily, and it would be of great benefit to the people of the Borough. The Mayor said the Council were going too quick altogether. The Council had never discussed the matter. There was nothing to put to the Company. They should first find out the wishes of the Company, but now a committee was to be appointed to discuss it with the Company. The Council must have some scheme to put before them, otherwise they would not know where they were.

CV. Hunter said that with the committee appointed they would see if the Company would decide to meet the Council and see if they could come to some agreement.

For the information of councillors, the clerk read the resolution, and die mover (Cr Thompson) had the wording slightly altered in the direction of a conference being held with the Company at a date to be arranged. The Mayor said he thought the Council was going the wrong way about the matter.

Cr Young moved an amendment that in the matter of the electric light the Council meet as a whole to discuss ways and means of lighting the town. Ratepayers as well as the Council weie agreed that the Council should have the light in its own hands, whether it was to be in a year or two or three years. The best way was first to get unanimity to discuss the matter thoroughly. If they were going to the Company they should have one mind on it, and not perhaps have the Company taking charge of the Council. He asked members to go thoroughly into .the reports and not be afraid to face wliat other Councils had stood to. There; was nothing .to he ashamed of in what the past Council had put forward, or in Mr Climie’s report. There was no question in his eyes hut that they should look into the question fair and square and give it the consideration it deserved.

Or Law,son said ho took it that the mover of the motion did not intend to meet the Company previous to the Council discussing the question. Cr Thompson said this was his intention. Th e Mayor said Councillors might not be prepared to meet the Company. They should decide the steps to be taken. Cr Thompson said he would stand to his motion. Cr Hancock seconded the amendment. Cr Thompson said he took Cr Young’s amendment as purely hostile to his own. He had brought up the question to see what could be done, so as to see what the Company wanted, and then come back and discuss it and go into ways and means. Or Mills said Cr Thompson’s motion was all right;; it seemed to meet the position. A desultory discussion followed, and eventually the amendment that the Council discuss the lighting question on the 28th inst. was put and lost. Cr llutherfurd moved a further amendment that the clerk be instructed to write to the Company inviting them to meet the Council at a special meeting in committee to deal with the lighting business, and if agreeable that a date be arranged for a conference. Seconded by Cr Young. The Mayor said the Council should 'not meet the Company unless they were prepared to dismiss the question. Cr Thompson said he was opposed to the amendment as it appeared to him to 1)0 a reflection on his motion. The amendment, .on being put to the meeting, was lost, and the motion was carried.