ELECTRIC LIGHTING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81861, 10 October 1906, Page 3

ELECTRIC LIGHTING

COMMITTEES' CONTROL CRITICISED. It was approaching the eleventh hour on Monday nignt, and the boiDiighciuncillorswev' looking heavuly tired of the wrangle of the Council table, where Cr. 1-". Belli ingor moved, according to notice that a icsoluium of November last be rescinded, and Uat in future the Eiectric Lighting Committee biing before the Council all pioposed contract arrangements for the supply of the current. lie complained that under the pro-em system the councillors and the public knew nothing of the doings of the Commit-

Cr. Wilson seconded, ami stated that tlw committee had outrun its instructions. Ho would quint' instances. Theie was in the Council Chamber an cicctric heat radiator, which the Council had noi ordered. There had been on view last week an electric motor for driving a sowing machine; who ordered that? (Voices: It's private property.) If it were private properly, how wa« it the Council was asked to pass the account for payment at that meeting? Then they had just heard of a "temporary line" across the railway line at llenui to secure one consumer at Strandon. Was that a paying investment; The Councillors should take steps to obtain the information that they were supposed to have.

Cr. Brooking, for the Committee, opposed the motion, and stated that ihey had done their best in the interests of the borough to popularise the light and make it pay. If the Committee had to bring ail its requirements before the Council he for one would soon be off the Committee. He took the motion as a vote of censure. Cr. Monteath also opposed the motion, on ilio ground that it would hamper the Committee and throw obstacles in the way of pushing the light Cr. Webster was equally hostile, remarking that i his proposal was unworkable, inasmuch as all the. confidential information obtained by the Commutes woud become the property of their rivals, the Ga- Company. Cr. Browne would give fu'l power to the Committee to make contracts as they liked. Cr. Brooking said ihere had been very few contracts made; nearly all current was charged by meter.

Cr. llellringer said that w as all very well, but what were ■he contracts?

Cr. Brooking explained that all this information could be obtained by any Councillor from the Committe's minute book. The only big contract had been with the Imperial Hotel, and the Committee had learned not to make any nioie.

At iliis siage it was mentioned iliat Ihe ele i: t lie radiator for tile chamber had been ordered by the Council in open niei ting. The motion was defeated, and an instruction given that the Committee' minutes are to be placed on the (able at each committee meeting. PROPOSED EXTENSION.

S''V<T:t! !(jc;ij l)()(li»-- li) Ih-• 1 wrote eon-riding lu allow tli« OutiK Ifx I'li'ii *'!( < 1 ric li,L;hlpoles in liio-" clis; riris. The KJiut U'Ukl Hoard and the TaTi County Ounri) had rn'in'd i|\<» mattrr to soliritoi s. Me-rs R"V and Wilson. who wrnti' tha> they wnijld fmuard drafi iinnsrs tor tin: Council'- perusal, the < «>»'. lo be Ivunc? by ih> Council. Cr. K'liii'm 10 k° thus far. 'I'll'" '•ou'd b'' piepap'd when the Council dn id*d io erect poles in those trirts. Tln'if was no need for ail this • xpi'iis.' \rt. The Kliot Road I)isiriti's licnn' would not be wanted for yar-. lif movd, and Cr. Hrowne seconded. thai tho bodies be ihanked foi their t<»n-ci,tr». and thai lIH I' I !lets be pt'-rn'd to (he Mh'ftiic Coimnutee.—Carried