STRATFORD LIGHTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 292, 19 May 1915, Page 3

STRATFORD LIGHTING.

DISCUSSION V,Y THE COUNCIL. FORMER ACTION KESCLNDED. | . A special meeting of the Stratford j thorough Council was held on -Monday present: the Mavor and Councillors Young. Stanley, Rutherford, Thompson, .Milts, La.tvson, Hunter, Hancock and The council went into committee to ', consider tlie tenders for the municipal buildings. On resuming, it was report- < cd that the tenders had been held over | until Friday night. Councillor Hunter then moved that the resolution on the report of the Special Lighting Committee's report be rescinded. He contended that the past council had passed a motion just on the point of going out of ollice. The old council had paid .€IOO for a report from I experts and it did not suit its liking, so it went and inspected the, Feildiug I plant, which it considered would admirably meet Stratford. Further, he eonI tended it was questionable whether the Public Works Department would issucan other license while the present company ' was in existence, and, further, if, supposI ing the Public Works Department did grant that license, the council would have to consider the question of law costs, because no doubt the company would dight the question of continuing I its right after the present concession ' lapsed. He compared the Feilding plant I with the local plant, and said that lie had the opinion of an expert that the ! Stratford plant was even better now j than the Feilding one. Further, he estimated that it would cost £22,000 to provide an up-to-date plant for Stratford. The 'present plant was 100 voltage and the voltage of the new plant was suggested at '220 or 230, the Government standard, if that was adopted, every house would have to be rewired. Those i at present using motors would have to j discard them as useless. He said that, | at one time, the present plant could have J been bought for £-1000, but some wiremen on the council at that time considered £2BOO was ample, with the result that the acquiring of the plant was lost to the borough. His reason for moving to rescind the motion was that the present council should have a free, hand and that the whole question of e'ectric lighting should be open for discussion. | Councillor Young interjected. , Councillor Hunter; Let me have my say. You will have your chance later on. 'We all know where you stand on this matter. You're for delay, everI lasting delay. Continuing, Councillor Hunter said I the council should either lake over the ! present plant or give the company a I further extension, or do something that would settle the matter for all time. The local paper had said that the new council was excessively weak. "Let us," he. concluded, " show that we are very strong." In seconding the motion, Councillor Thompson said that the old committee had never told the last council whether ! the Public Works Department would j grant them a new license. His Worship, in opposing the motion, said that the report was the outcome I of two'years' work liy the past conn- . • eil's Electric Light Committee. He said | j that, although the past council liad J given the company a concession, legal j i advice had told them that they had no j power to grant such concession, 'but . morally the council would have to stand to it. He contended that it would pay i to instal a new plant rather than to j take over the present company's plant. If the standard voltage was used, it would cost ;CSOO to rewire the houses. J Councillor Thompson, in differing from j the previous speaker, contended that the previous committee had expended money at its own sweet will. | Councillor Lawson saw no reason why I the motion should not be rescinded, as] the council would then have the right j to discuss the whole matter. Councillor Rutherford did not like rescinding the motion, as the ratepayers might think that by doing so they were taking the side of the Electric Light Company faction on the matter. Councillor Young said he did not regret that the matter had not been settled. The present company had been started by a number of smart men of tne town, and had never paid, and never would pay. He complimented the past council on obtaining such an up-to-date .report. By letting the motion stand, the council had two strings to its bow. Tf the convnauv did not nrovide a satis-

factory light, they could instal their own. Tt would 'be presumption on the council's part to rescind the motion. He considered that the report of the past committee was an indication to the present council of what lines to follow. Councillor Hunter, in replying, said that it was childish for the past council to run away to Feilding in its dying hours and firing down a report tuat would bind the present and all future councils. lie deprecated the Mayor's remarks about the cost of rewiring being only £BOO, and offered to put up £SO to be donated to the Hospital Board if it cost Jess than £SOOO to rewire the houses for the standardised 'plant. The present plan had worked well, and gave very little trouble. He did not want to mention the present company at all, but he Avanted the motion rescinded, so that the council should have a clear field for the future. For twelve years, councils had been working on electric light matters, and had never yet come to any decision on the matter.

His Worship said that he did not like any reflection cast on past councils. The motion was carried on a division, the voting being: Ayes, Councillors Stanley, Thompson. Mills, Lawson, Hunter, Hancock and Davy; noes: the Mayor and Councillors Young and Rutherford.