The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 1883. GAS ET PRAETEREA NIHIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1466, 25 August 1883, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 1883. GAS ET PRAETEREA NIHIL.

On Tuesday nextCr Pkice will move iu the Masterton Borough Council—- " That the Council tuke up the work of supplying Masterton with gas." We admire Cr Price's courage in again bringing this matter forward, more especially as there is little likelihood of his motion being carried. Our Councillors will never be induced to take up anything except the usual routine work of the Borough. A bold step Buchas the one proposed by Cr Pkice would require more oxertion and careful thought than they are prepared to give, It may be shewn that the erection of a gas factory would prove of benefit in providing work, in lighting the streets, in providing material to construct durable footpaths, and in many other ways, and that, above all, it. would of a surety be a paying coacem, still we believe the answer of the Council will be, " Let a private firm take the matter up," or in other words "don't trouble us with any matter outside our discussion on the state, of the Borough finances." Cr Cabelberg, moved by a jocular spirit, proposes to quash Cr Pkioe's motion by moving for electric light. No doubt as this jb as yet a toy, Councillors will

bo .mora inclined to favor Cr Oaselberq's motion, especially as they have the example of the House of Representatives before them which has spent some for a light.that oannot be used without burning gas at the' same time to take its place when.it "goes out." Tho inquiries and calculations made when the matter of gas was hefore the Council on a former occasion proved that it could be introduced with profit to the borough aud advantage to tho burgesses, but the sub' ject was .simply. talked about and nothing more, and we are afraid that, with some councillors afraid to move out of the old groove on the one hand and others favoring the electric light on the other, Cr Price's motion will meet the same fate as the former one, and the burgesses condemned to plod in darkness till a private Company takes up tho matter, when the evils arising from such a monopoly will ultimately compel the Borough to take over the concern at double or treble what it would coat to establish it in the first instance.