PRELIMINARY STEPS

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14546, 24 December 1912, Page 10

PRELIMINARY STEPS

Matters connected with the Lake, Coleridge electrical scheme, were advanced a step at last night's meeting of the City Council. j Cr. E. Smith (Chairman of the Elec- ; trical Lighting and Power Committee) moved to tho effect that tho Town ; Clerk be instructed to publish a notico j regarding tho loan m connection with j the Lake Coleridge scheme. Tho notification sot out that it was intended to raise a lorm of £120,000, having a currency of 33 yeais, and bearing interest, in tho meantime, at tho rate of £4 10s per cent, for tho purpose of providing Mib-stations and plant, transforming plant aud buildings mains, services, meter?, lamps for street lighting and poles. Cr. Acland seconded the motion. Cr. Cooper asked on what basis it was proposed to tako 300 kilowatts from the Government. Ho referred to the fact that ono largo business establishment which at one time kept open till nfter 9 p.m. on Saturdays was not now open on Saturday nights, and that the clos- j ing hour for the butchers' shops in tho city had been fixed at 7 p.m. onbaturdavs. He indicated that this would recluco tho demand for electric light. Cr. E. Smith raised a point of order, j Tho present was not the proper occasion to discuss tho scheme. j Tho Mayor said that ho did not dosire to burke discussion. The firm referred to by Cr. Cooper was never a customer of "the City Council. During tho present year tho Council had disposed (ff 620 kilowatts. Cr. [Cooper remarked that other trades; would be, probably, closing early <|n Saturday nights, and that would ! bo a serious matter and should bo considered. Cr. Morris asked if this was the timo to discuss such matters? Tho Mayor said it would bo right into their hands if nil tho shops closed early on Saturday nights. Cr. Cooper asked if it were a fact that the Government intended selling current to tho Tramway Board at a lower rate than to the City Council? Tho Mayor said that lie had heard nothing about it. Cr. Cooper said that Mr Birks, in answer to a question put to him by tho speaker, stated that it was contemplated supplying the Tramway Board at a less rato than the City Council. Cr. Acland ask\d Cr. Cooper if ho had taken into account tho-amount of light that would bo consumed by shop assistants in their homes when they were not kept lato in the shops? The motion wa3 agreed to unanimously. The Mayor suggested that the poll should bo taken about the middle of Febnary, and on the motion of Cr. E. Sniitl this was agreed to, iho exact dato )ping left to tho Mayor and Town Clerk to fix Th( Mayor was authorised to incur the necessary expenditure in connection ;vith tho public meetings to be held mor to the poll.