CORPORATIONS AND GAS COMPANIES.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7359, 11 July 1889, Page 5

CORPORATIONS AND GAS COMPANIES.

MB PEKCEVAL'S BILL. [By Telegraph."] [fkom our special correspondent.l WELLINGTON, July 10. ..With reference to the Bill which Mr Perceval is bringing in to amend the Corporations Act by enabling Corporations to undertake gas-lighting without a special Bill being necessary, I find that a strong feeling exists that while Parliament always discourages monopoly and encourages fair competition for the sake of the public, it' is a different matter to empower a Council to go into competition in; trade with ratepayers'' money, thus placing an existing Gas Company at a manifest disadvantage in the competition, as ratepayers would support their own gasworks. It is proposed, therefore, to insert a proviso that the power shall only be given to the corporatioa conditionally on their first havingoffered to buy any existing gasworks at actual fair market value as a going concern (but exclusive of good will). If this proviso be inserted, Mr Perceval's Bill will possibly pass, but not otherwise. I understand he is -personally favorable to it. If the Christchureh Council, therefore, desire to obtain power to erect gasworks they will have to agree to thie proviso, else the Bill has no chance this session.