MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3115, 2 July 1892, Page 1 (Supplement)

MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT.

John Burns contributes to the Nineteenth Century a vigorous paper on the Progressive poiloy of tho London County Council. Mr Burns confutes the assertion that the Progressives will add £100,000,000 on London's debt, by comparing the monopolist with the municipal management of tho chief public services. He takes his lessou inuinly from tho experience of Glasgow. Under the private ownership of \U watersupply, Glasgow citizens had to pay a 14d rate for a restricted supply ofjdiluted sewage. Since the transfer has been mude to the Corporation by purchase, Loch Katrine has been drawn upon by a bold, generous, and profitable scheme, tho 14d rate has been reduced to Gd per £1 rental; and it ia computed that the Gd rate is entirely neutralised by the saving effected over the old system and supply by the clean, soft water that saves its cost inpoap soda, and other ingredients not now required for domestic and industrial purposes. Four hundred gallons are supplied for Id.—7a 6d per annum for a house at £15 rental, as against double that price in London. Beyond this clean, cheap, constant supply from cloudlind itself, Glas-

gow— that was to be ruined by this enterprise—is rapidly paying off its original debt from its neb profit, after interest, depreciation, and extensions are provided for; and its assets on the water supply and •works exceed tbt.i rapidly diminishing debt by £600,000. The assets are £2,637 691 10s 6d ; the liabilities £2,947,595.

In the supply of gas by municipalities what do we find ? That per ton of coal carbonised, and cubic feet of gas produced therefrom, the municipalised gasworks all over) Britain show a better and cheaper result than private works. The Dricc of municipal gas is less that largo amount spread over all the consnmprs which thn shareholders only divide where companies provide. Th/s works of municipalities are kept in order and repair, the approaches are tidier and cleaner. Their emploj'OH are better)treated than where private ownership prevails. Glasgow'takes from its gasworks a yearly revenue 0.5£i53,000. Its expenditure is £430 000; its increasing diminishing debt is £550,000 its ineeasing asset is £780,000; and all this, notwithstanding it now puvs 56 to 70 per cent, more for its coal. Its output ia 170 per cent, greater thnn when under private control. ltd leakage is 50 per cent, less, the illuminating power the same, and the three-shift system has been introduced.

On its tra.mvays Glasgow has eveu a better record vhan on its water and gas. The corporation Ims built, thirty-two miles which it hus previously leased to a company, but which will not. be renewed again in 189-1; threo percent has buou paid to Uie corporation for redemption of the original

debt contracted for building {fie linos; four por cent has been paid by the company for renewals ; £ 1 v>o pnr annum per milo h>i.boon paid bj the company ns rent. In twenty-one years £100,000 has been paid by the company, £150,000 more than the total cost, exclusive of an average of oipht per cent dividend taken by the company in that period. Mr Burns effectively cotnpareß this state of things with the tax of £1,000,000 which London pays to the owner* of the (Treat civic monopolies.