THE GASWORKS AND,THE CITY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 167, 8 April 1908, Page 6

THE GASWORKS AND,THE CITY.

An attempt is being made to prejudice tlie chances of Mr. Aitken in the Mayoralty contest by suggesting that the Gas Company is. assisting his candidature with the expectation of securing better terms from him than would be granted by the present Mayor. Our evening contemporary, which is assisting to circulate this rumour, is careful to guard itself against a direct assertion but in an article published in Monday's issue it refers, to the matter in a manner which leaves the question open to_ doubt. While it frankly accepts Mr. Aitken's explicit repudiation of any connection with the Company,' or of' any interest associated with it—in fact it states that such repudiation was not necessary—it is ungenerous enough to give an exaggerated importance to idle suggestions of " possibilities" set in circulation by the rival candidate for the Mayoral office. What is the position ? ; Mr. Hislop quarrelled with the chairman of the Gas Company, and in consequence the chairman refused to support his candidature. Because Mr. Hislop, has quarrelled with the Gas Company and Mr. Aitken has not, it is submitted in all seriousness that the purchase of the Gas Company's business can be better conducted by Mr. Ilislop than by his opponent. The suggestion is so ridiculous that it cannot influence anyone acquainted with the real facts s of the case, and is more calculated to react upon those who are putting it in circulation than affect the candidate it is intended to injure. While on the subject of the purchase of ( the Gas Company's property, it might bo well to disabuse the

minds of those who appear to imagine that there 'is necessarily going to be any great amount of bargaining in the matter. Cinder the Bill introduced by Mr. Aitken in 1904 power was given to settle the question of the price to be paid by arbitration. The main clauses of the Bill read as follow (lj It shall bo lawful for tlio Corporation at any time after twelvo mouths' notice in writing lias been given by tho Council oh its behalf to tho Company of tho intention of tho Corporation so to do, to purchase tho undertaking at a price to bo determined ■ by arbitration of two arbitrators and their uniJiiro to be appointed as hereinafter provided. (2) Tho provisions of tho Arbitration Act, 1800, shall apply to any arbitration under this section; and this section shall; on tho Council giving such notice as aforesaid, bo deemed to bo a submission within the moaning of tho Act. (3) The Company shall sell tho undertaking to the Council at tho price determined by such arbitration. Under the Arbitration Act of 1890 tho arbitrators must report within a fixed _ period, and the whole of the machinery necessary to arrive at a just valuation is provided. All the talk about "driving hard bargains" and so forth is mere twaddle. If the City decides to take the Gasworks, and obtains the power to do so, it will naturally want to make as good a bargain as possible, but it must be prepared to deal fairly with the owners of the property. Mr. Aitken's proposal is fair both to the City and to the Company.: