EIGHTS OF MUNICIPALITIES.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11726, 29 October 1903, Page 5

EIGHTS OF MUNICIPALITIES.

THE WATER POWER BILL. A MINISTERIAL CHARGE. (srEcui, to “the rnrss.") WELLINGTON, October 23. A lengthy and somewhat heated discussion arose to-night over the Water Power Bill. The Minister of Public Works moved that tho amendments made by the Council in the Bill be disagreed with. The Council struck out clause 6 giving the Governor power to limit the measure to any rive 1 ! - , fail, etc., and luid inserted a new clause providing that tho measure should not be deemed to restrict any of tho rights conferred by the Hawera County Electric Lighting Act, 1902.

Mr Symes moved that the new clause bo agreed to, in order to avoid the perpetuation of a grave injustice. Mr Hall-Jones said tliere was no doubt that compensation would be paid if the Electric Lighting Company’s rights were taken over by the Government. He, however, complained that the Bill of last session had been got through secretly and silently, and he doubted if all the shareholders were aware that a certain gentleman was to receive £3COO in cash and £3090 in shares for promoting that Bill. The clause now inserted by the Council was either a money-lender’s clause or else in the interests of that person. Ho would not state the name, but he gave the facts in the interests of the people of tho colonv.

Mr' Symes and Mr Major spoke strongly against the attitude of the Government in regard to the Hawera Company, and declared that the facts were not as stated by the Minister for Public Works. Mr fc’eddon said tliere were other companies in the same position —the Waipori Company, for instance. The Government could acquire this under the Bill as -a national work, paying compensation under the Public Works Act.

Mr McNab drew attention to the fact that the City of Dunedin had obtained somewhat similar rights to the Hawera Company. If the proposal was agreed to they would be giving the Government power to step in, and under the Public Works Act, take away from the City Corporation of Dunedin the rights they now had. The same applied to the City of Christchurch in connection with the harnessing of the Waimakariri River. If they wore going to treat the Hawera Corporation in a special way they should put other corporations in the same position. Mr Taylor said an effort should be made to get a special clause passed protecting the rights of Christchurch, Waipori, Gore, and Greytown. Some places in Central Otago where electricity was being used should also be protected. Mr Millar also spoke of the rights of Dunedin. If the clause referred to was to go in let it be general in its application. A division on the amendment resulted in a tie, 33 on each side. The Speaker gave his casting vote with tho noe», and declared the amendment lost. A Committee of Management was then appointed to draw up reasoas for disagreeing with the Council’s amendments.