ELECTRIC LIGHT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 74, 27 July 1915, Page 5

ELECTRIC LIGHT.

COMPANY AND THE COUNCIL CONFER. The Borough Council and the Weetrie Supply Company met in conference last evening. The Council were fully represented, there being only one absentee, Cr. Thompson. Messrs R. Masters. A. W. Budge. A. W. Reid, S. H. James. S. M. Porritt and X. J. King, representing the Companiy, were present. The Mayor (Mr J. W. Boon) stated the Borough was anxious to meet the Company with a view to arranging terms. The Borough's proposal was that the plant should be taken over by arbitration and that the Company be paid £1 for the goodwill. The reason why they proposed to pay only £1 for the goodwill was because the Borough Council contended that the present plant was in bad order and the

Borough would have to spend a considerable amount in replacing the present plant.

At the outset Mr Mastery moved that the conference he open to the press. So far as the Company was concerned, they had nothing to hide. The public were interested in the proceedings, and tliey should be acquainted with the business done. Cr. Hunter seconded the resolution, which was carried.

His Worship the .Mayor in his opening remarks welcomed the delegates to the Council Chambers, and .said: We have met here to-night to have a conference in connection with a possibility of taking over the Electric Lighting Company's undertaking. Of course, gentlemen, we are very sorry that tin's plant is here, and you will quite understand that it would he belter from the Council's point of view as a business concern, to have an entirely new, up-to-date plant installed. This would, for a number of years, require very little repairs and renewals, and would give more satisfaction in having the transformers arranged so as not to carry more than it should have. For instance, the current in my house will boil a kettle in eight minutes, at the County Hotel it takes thirty minutes, and at the Brecon Road about -15 minutes. Then, of course, the iron poles will have very soon to all come out, and new wood poles substituted, this means buying the wood poles and fixing, and also paying labour to have the old ones disconnected and carted off. It's a question whether any use can be made of them after spending this money on them. Also the Councillors will have paid for them according to the price put on by the valuers. Then you will readily admit that there are not sufficient transformers to cope with the large increase in lights and heaters, these will require to be redistributed, and a number of extra ones put in. There are a number of wood poles at the cornel's of streets which are not long enough, and have temporary pieces of wood bolted on. The Councillors advisor reports that there is not sufficient copper in the distribution lines, also very few of the lines are insulated, and generally speaking, a fairly round sum will need to be spent to get good results all over the Borough. We are quite satisfied that the Council may commence to instal a new plant at anytime so as to be ready when the Company's concession ends, and although we would be able to put the poles on the outside of the kerb, yet we could put our poles on tlk? inside of the footpaths, and where we come in contact with shops, we could enclose our wire in cables underground. I Seeing your concession runs for another four years, the Council wants to .have, and control, their own light, then we should be able to put our poles 'just where we like, and would nvaA | having to put the wire undergrou id. iin addition, we would put on in."re j street lights, and naturally would nor, j feel the cost of generation of current \to be heavy. In making the offer to .take over the works at valuation with 'a peppercorn goodwill, is is | subject to the sanction of I ing able to float a loan large enough I the ratepayers and to the beto put the works in good order at a i satisfactory interest, You will be. aware that if you run for four years, there would be a profit each year, ■ basing it on your last year's bal- ' ance-sheet, but your plant would be I hard to sell, and tile cost of discon-