STRATFORD LIGHT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 83, 4 November 1916, Page 7

STRATFORD LIGHT.

COUNCIL AND COMPANY, A special meeting of the Borough Council was held yesterday afternooa in conjunction with the directors of the Stratford Electrical Supply Co., Ltd., to formally settle matters relative to the acquisition of the Electric Light undertaking. There were present: The Mayor (Mr J. W. Boon), and Crs J. H. Thompson, A. J. Oavey, T. Lawson, E. S. Rutherfurd. W. H. H. Young, C. B. Walsh, S. B. Hunter, tfie Town Clerk (Mr P. SkogUuul) and Mr T. C. Fookes (Borough Solicitor); ••is well as the directors representing the Electrical Supply Co. as follows: .Messrs I\. Masters (Chairman), S. M. Porritt, Garrett E. Wilson, S. H. Ja*nes, with Mi- J. R. L. Stanford, the Company's solicitor, and Mr W. J. Newton (Engineer). The Town Clerk having read the resolution calling the meeting and the authorisation of tha common seal of the Council to the transfer, on the motion of Cr Lawson, seconded by Cr Thompson, it was resolved that Cr ■Hunter be the- Councillor appointed to sig.n the accessary document when such seal is affixed.

The Mayor explained that owing to the unavoidable absence of Mr Budge certain difficulties had arisen on account of his absence, it would be necessary to adjourn the meeting. It was accordingly agreed to adjourn the meeting until Monday next at 7.30 p.m. The members of the Electric Light Committee, consisting of the Mayor, Crs Young, Hunter and Thompson, were appointed to meet the solicitors on : both rdes and to arrange a settlement. ,j

SOME SPEECHES. Tlio Mayor then said that to-day was really the formal taking over of the Electrical Supply Company's undertaking—another milestone in the history of Stratford, The electric light question had been almost the first before anything in the Borough, and had been a thorny question at election times. The undertaking had cost about £16,009. He was, huvr«ver, satisfied with the experts employe;! and with the result of the negotiations. The question would arise as to the poflicy of.. the.Coum'iJ.and the extending thetlincs; to ..the,, country or not, say to Midhirst. Ngaoro, and Toko. He was not, in ..favour, oi this until the war was over. It would be prudent to move' cautiously. Later on a schema might he devised for the County and Borough to extend, but the Borough should not be asked to carry the burden the County might have. The Mayor referred to the friendly spirit in which the negotiations had been carried out between the Company and the Borough. Mr Masters congratulated the Counctf on the distinct step the municipality had made,..Unfortunately in the pftst, unfriendly feelings had arisen especially in .connection with elections, and the result of this the Borough had Buffered. Mr Masters referred to the fact that in taking this undertaking over the yhad to gain experience, and he suggested that— it-<«»woMhh be, prudent to hesitate before making great changes until they fully grasped the situation and got their "sea legs.' 1 He referred to the loyalty of. their Manager (Mr Newton), and felt sure he would'be equally loyal to the Council. Mr Masters rather advocated an extension to. the country provided a scheme could be devised to make it a paying proposition. In this connection he mentioned that at Hawera, the largest proportion of their income was from the country districts, power being largely used for milking machine plant; Mr Masters considered that in a short time £7OO or £BOO should be made out of the Electric Light each year, and he felt sure the ratepayers would be glad to realise that their undertaking was a success. Mr Porritt, in congratulating the Borough on this acquisition, regretted his severance from the Company and the business which had taken 18 years to build up. Cr Thompson considered the Council had acted on the right lines. Cr Young also expressed himself as phased that this business had been acquired on a Satisfactory basis. Cr Hunter, in supporting the Council, thought it advisable to go slow, at any rate for the present. He congratulated the Company on getting rid of their old plant.—(Laughter). Crs Lawson, Ruthori'urd, and Walsh all spoke in favour of the step taken by the Borough, and the meeting then el s.«d.