THE LIGHTING QUESTION.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 290, 2 December 1902, Page 3

THE LIGHTING QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOB. Sir,—Now that the excitement of th« election is over don't you think it is about time we had pome finality to the above question. We have evidently drawn attention of a number of firms anxious for a job. I notice that the Acetylene Co. are anxious to sell a £IOOO plant to the Corporation, and I don't blame them either if they can manage it; and Messrs Stewart and Fenn are also prepared to supply the Corporation with plant for lighting Waimate with electricity for £SOOO, and they estimate the revenue at i £1241 148. They must certainly be a pretty smart firm and be able to cut the margin much cloeer than the average electrical engineer when they come to 14s exactness. It would be interesting to know how they arrive at the estimated revenue of the extra £1241. I am confident that they have not the promise of one single individual in Waimate to adopt eleotrio light if introduced. Then as to maintaining the works they, cannot have the faintest idea of the size of installation. How, then, can they estimate either the cost or profit. I am astonished that men professing to be engineers should be so absurd aa to write such nonsense to any body of intelligent men, expeoting them to pay any attention to it. But I suppose they presume that if they could peisuade the Council

to give them £SOOO for a p'aut it would be a matter of little consequence to ihem whether the haphazard s they gave panned out right or wrong, as long as they got the job at the they want. Who is this btewart and Fun? Hive they ever done any work of this aind anywhere elee. If so, don't they refer to some township or plaoe similar to what they offer to do for us that they have done, and iheu we cou d tell what they can do. I have noticed the name several times in having been paid for giving reports on electric lighting schemes, but never noticed where they got their reports adopted or carried out. It is a curious fact that bo many firms are so anxious to advise the council or supply them with systems or plants that are such profit earning systems, and tha'are so certain to bring in such a big reveuue to tha borough. They don't c»re I about taking the big profits themselves I and offer to erector install when they are Iso confident it is such a good thing. No, they tell you they don't do business in , that way, as according to deed of partnership they are not allowed to take any i risk. They prefer to be paid for reports or experiments with ratepayers' money and thus avoid any and all risks. No doubt Messrs Stewart and Fenn, Burt, and Acetylene Co. are quite prepared to supply what they have to sell and are anxious to do no, or to place their expert ehct; ical knowledge at the Council's disposal, at a price, but will not accept any risk oi any responsibility on any condition. Oi course if the Council can rind any firm that is prepared to instal a lighting scheme in Waimate simply on its merits and take all risk and responsibility, depending entirely upon the fact of it being able to supply a light of such quality and at such cost t lat it will pay the public to adopt it, the Council hwe nothing to lose but all to gain. Then why postpone and delay till the heart is sick. A splendid offer has been made to the Oouncil which it accepted, but some one has blundered and blundered badly. Well if it is Mr Watt, he i. o ily human ; we all have erred, so he is no exception The establishment of gas works will give work to a lot of people: will circulate money in the place and when complete will grettly advance Waima'e. I am confident it is the wish of .-til the ratepayers and the general public to give him a show and trust the Council will do so also on Monday night.—l am, etc.,

Moke Light,