TOWN LIGHTING.

Waipukurau Press, Volume I, 8 June 1906, Page 3

TOWN LIGHTING.

[ Io the Editor.]

Sir —The general impression in the township seems to be that it is about time our Town Board should either say straight out that they find the fighting question is more than they can manage and give it up altogether, or else that they should pursue some definite course of action in the matter. The Board has spent the last three months in moving resolutions as to lighting at one meeting and then rescinding them at others, and as it is now too late in the season to do anything before this winter will be over, it would be a good thimz if the board would drop the idea of putting a few lights only in the main street, which will not satisfy the majority of the rai epayers, and would cost more to maintain in labour than they are worth ; and, instead of this, go in for a complete scheme of supplying light not only to the streets but to the business premises and dwellings as well; the profits in supplying the latter would then pay for the upkeep of the street lamps, and so save this cost to the ratepayers. This has been done successfully in other places ; therefore why not here. In that case the board would require to find out from some reliable source what is the best kind of light for all purposes, whether electric, coal gas, acetylene gas, Kitson, or any other known light, and then they would require to have a Local Bill drafted giving them full powers for street and house lighting, also giving borrowing powers, etc. : this could be copied from Bills of a similar kind, of which there are plenty on the Statute Book, and the Bill could then be passed in the coming Session. Experience has proved that the lighting of a township if well managed pays a good profit to the local body, and to obtain this privilege large sums are often paid for goodwills to private lighting companies, but fortunately there is no vested interests to buy out here like they have in many otherplaces; then why should not our Town Board take advantage of the present golden opportunity and give the township a complete lighting scheme that would help its advancement?—l am, etc.,

Ratepayer.

June 7th, 1906.