THAMES GAS BILL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 233, 29 September 1908, Page 6

THAMES GAS BILL.

BOROUGH SCHEME CRIPPLED. (By Telegraph. —Parliamentary ..Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Monday. The Thames Borough Gas Bill, which ha.l a stormy ->a__ge when before the House, has emerged in a crippled condition from tn Ijocal Bills Committee. Those who watched the bill's chequered career through the House will remember that a protest was raised by the Thames Gas Company [a, private institution) that the Thame,- Borough Gas Bill was not a local meas-, lire, but came under the category of a private bill. Thi- opinion the Local Bills Committee evidently held, and the measure was referred to the loint Committee on Bills to stamp it with its true hallmark. When next it came before the House it was with the recommendation of the Joint Committee that it b e trea-tod as a local bill. Some strong remarks were made at the time, the Minister for Mines, the Hon. Jas. McGowan putting up a big fight for the passage of the bill as a local measure. It was then returned to the Local Bills Committee to be treated as a local hall. This afternoon the Committee returned the measure with a drastic amenrlme.-it which practically means that the bill is killed. The original clause read: "The limits of this Act shall comprise, extend to, and include all lands within the 'lhame.? Borough, and also all lands within the Thames County that are situated within the oounoanes of Parawai Riding and the Kauareanga Riding." As amended the bill now provides that "the limits of this Act shall comprise such parts of the Thames Borough and of the Parawai and Kauaerangn Ridings of the Thames County as are not included within the limits of the Thames Gas Company Act of IST. . as defined in section 4fi of that Act." In the words of a Northern member, "If the amendment holds good the bill is killed."