THE ELECTRICAL SCHEME.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 125, 2 July 1914, Page 2

THE ELECTRICAL SCHEME.

SPREYDON'S POSITION. CR SYKES IN REPLY. At last night's meeting of the Spreydon Borough Council, a letter was received from Mr L. Birks, engineer in charge of the Lake Coleridge electrical scheme, to the effect that he would be willing to meet the council and advise them in connection with the proposal of the City 'Council to undertake the reticulation and supply of electrical power. Cr Sykes was the first to speak to this letter. He prefaced his remarks by saying that he wished to refer to the criticism of the Mayor of Christchurch and Cr Taylor with regard to his statement at last meeting that the scheme would cost the ratepayers of Spreydon 50 per cent more than the city consumers. Mr Holland had said, "It is evident Cr Sykes does not understand the position, and his statements are misleading and incorrect,'' and Cr Taylor had said "absolutely incorrect." Mr Holland also stated that it would make no difference to the city scheme whether the outside bodies came in or not —that was all bluff. It would make this difference: Every outside consumer would lighten the city reticulation charges |to' the extent of fd per unit for every unit consumed ($d was Mr Holland's own quotation), and that was equal to 30 per cent per unit; not a bad business deal when the profit sold to those outsiders was added.

Both Mr Holland and Cr Taylor asserted that his remark that it would probably cost Spreydon residents 50 per cent more than the city was incorreet, but they did not attempt to show where or how it was so.

The facts were these. Spreydon took current at per unit—the price charged to the city epusumers—at its boundary. To this had to be added all charges on reticulation within • tne borough. There were 970 houses and 26 miles of streets, exclusive of . the city boundary roads. To reticulate the whole of the borough would cost approximately £8600; but if this were halved, and reticulation allowed fo|r 13 miles, the approximate cost' woiiH; be £4300. If 25 per cent'of jail the Jioiuses connected, and; that was fair estimate when reticulating only half tHe streets, how would that work' out, lie asked. To illustrate his contention, Cr submitted the following estiniate&of receipts atnd firep&frecl by him, and -#hieh haftl' ltteleW verified three experts'.'' r *. : Arinual' expenditure would be, say, 5 p&rc6rit, ! sinßfrig fund 1 pei' cent,; depreciation >4 pe? eetoEt',' making 10 per eent'oii £4\3oo,'a ilfotaL of. £430. The cost of' the cutrerit at the city boundary, 1 ' fiOtise'^at 1 30/-,' £364. 10/-; cost of 1 street lighting', ISO lainpSj £130; total expenMture,''£!>24. " 1 On the other' "hand thetfeceipt&'woUld be, ,from 243 houses, with 50' "{)er cent on city charges 'fet' 45/-, £546 15/-; 130. street lamps at 40/-, £260; total receipts i £BO6 15/;. The scheme would therefore result in a deficiency of £ll7 15/-. - In conclusion Cr Sykes said that he 1 wished to. say that 1 rid; Orison'the 1 -j don Council had (fu&stioned the cheapness of the City GoUftc'ilV offer. 1 Hle'had only pointed out •' that Spreydon c.pn.sumers 'would have to pay probably 50 per cent more than the city tonsumeija, in saying that he was well within the

mark. For the life of liim he could not see anything in that in any way detrimental to the city, or for the Mayor and his council to get angry about. In advising caution he had a perfect right to counsel that they should not -be in a hurry over the matter. He took it that they were out to make the best bargain possible, either through the city or any other available source. It had also to be remembered that everybody would not dispense with gas immediately. The cost of installation, £lO per house, had to be borne in mind. Cr Winsor said he could not see how Spreydon would have to pay 50 per cent more than the city consumers. The per unit would include the cost of everything. Spreydon would have to pay interest on their otvn outlay, not on street lighting or city reticulation. If Spreydon went in foiv an independent scheme there was the cost of the stations, etc., to be considered, which would probably raise the charge to 6d per unit. To his mind the offer made by the City Council was; a good one, especially when compared with other districts. ' ■

Cr Woods said one iobjection to the city scheme was that the rate was subject ttt a rise or fall.' The ratepayerswould naturally be against the proposal unless they were assured of a fixed rate.

Cr Clark said he quite agreed with Cr Sykes. They should not be ill too great a hurry. It was decided to invite Mr Birks to appear before the council; at a special meeting on Wednesday! next, July 8.