LIGHTING OF SUMNER.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 11945, 14 July 1904, Page 3

LIGHTING OF SUMNER.

MUNICIPAL CONTROL DECIDED OX. A public mr-elinc* of the rafrmTcr* of Simirir -was litld Inst night in the' r-arish •■r-linolrnnm. in regard to the question of lirhting. There was a fair attendance, considering the weather. Cr. Wallace was voted to the chair, and read the resolutions passed al ili« previous public meeting, together with 1110 resolution adopted by the Borough Council expressing tho opinion that tho lighting should bp carried on by the Municipality. The Chairman considered that, after the experience connected with tho tramway, it would be very foolish to allow a syndicate to reap the 'profit to be made from lighting tho borough. It wan for the meeting to say whether they approved of the Council's opinion. Ho might say that tho offers which had been made were now withdrawn. Mr Barr considered that all present would be delighted to find the Council taking a step in the right direction. He had noea 110 argument in favour of a syndicate. His own experience proved to him that municipalization was the proper thing. He moved, "That this meeting express its approval of the motion passed at the special meeting of tlie Sumner Borough Council, That no system of lighting for the borough is considered admissible unless owned and controlled by the Municipality.'" Mr Bullivant seconded the motion. Mr Wiggins said* he would like to know whether the Council could finance the undertaking. The Cliairman (said he thought there would be no difficulty in getting tho money, as the security would be sufficient. The question need not bo determined at once. It could wait even for a twelve month, when the Borough would no doubt be in a much better position. Mr Pratt moved, as nn amendment, "That in the opinion of this meeting the time has not arrived for a public meeting to exproia* an opinion whether tlie lighting should bo done under the Municipality's control or by any private party." The Chairman ruled that the amendment was not in order. Mr Wheeler asked if the motion was not diametrically opposed to the opinion expressed at the last public meeting. He felt that the time had not arrived for dealing with the question. At Ashburton and Lytteiton the gasworks had been started by a company and then taken over by the municipality. He was in favour of dealing with any offer now made, and the works could subsequently be taken over by the borough. The motion was carried with only one dissentient. Cr. Illingworth said that he had been informed that the work could be financed at 6 per cent, or perhaps less. He was in favour of leaving the matter for six or tight months and tlien calling another nicotine. Mr Maffey moved —"TViat in Tiew of the rapid progress of Sumner both as regards population and settlement, it is the ojJtltion of this meeting that the lighting of the borough should be, pushed on as rapidly as possible, and that every endeavour should j bo made to borrow the money from the I Government, but failing this, that the' question be held oTer for nix months in the hope of a more' favourable money market." Mr P. Pender seconded the motion. He thought that repeated efforts should be made to pet the money from the Government. Tho water supply, he thought, could not be: put off. Sumner was rapidly increasing, and water was absolutely required. What the Council had done was a credit to them and their engineer. The ratepayers should not at once pay private individuals five per cent, when thry could get the- money from the Government at a much lower rate. After further discusr-ion the resolution was carried, with only one dissentient.