THE SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20789, 24 February 1933, Page 17

THE SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY.

LOCAL BODIES AT LAW. CASE MAY GO TO PRIVY COUNCIL. That it was possible that the Privy Council would be asked to consider an interesting legal argument which has arisen in New Zealand over the interpretation of the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act, dealing with the powers of a municipality to supply electricity outside the borough limits, was mentioned in the address by the president of the New Zealand Society of Engineers (Mr I<\ T. M. Kissel), at the annual conference of the society last evening Mr Ivissel stated that section 252 of the Act of 1920 provided: (a) That a council may, with the consent of the local authority of the district in which the supply is given, supply electricity to any person residing outside the borough. (b) That a council may contract with the local authority of any adjoining district to supply electricity to such local authorities. "The argument has arisen over the meaning of the word, 'adjoining.' In the case in question one borough council has been supplying electricity to another borough a few miles distant, these few miles being for ordinary purposes administered by a county council. Ihe parties to the dispute sought a judgment from the court as to whether such supply was legal, or, in other words, whether the second borough could be considered as an adjoining local authority. The decision of the court was that it could. The one party to the dispute was of course not satisfied; the matter was referred to the •\ppeal Court, and the original decision was reversed. The other party to the dispute is of course now not satisiieil and there is a probability of the question being referred to the Privy Council for decision. No Lack of Enthusiasm. "There surelv can be no. lack of enthusiasm in the work of the men who constitute our local government when they are prepare.! to go to those' lengths to substantiate their rights 'to control and direct the great sources of power ~, Nature for the use and conven.eu. s of man/ " continued Mr Kissel.* lie «,uan' will get the benefit of somebody s control and direction, whoever w.ns.