THE GAS CONTROVERSY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 571, 28 July 1909, Page 9

THE GAS CONTROVERSY.

CITY COUNCIL V. THE CAS COMPANY

' LEGAL ACTION* CONTEMPLATED

//The various i interviews', between tho Gas Committee, of 'thb City Council and Mr. Win. Ferguson, ! representative of. tho .Wellington Gas Company, havb.not;.solved '-thb difficulty .which has .arisen• between .tho/ parties ■ inreference to the question of-tho,right, of tho company to lay .'connecting main's' from Constable Street to■ tho'-now gasometer, at Miramarv'.lt.is understood that';negbtiatipnsaro not': proceeding satisfactoriiy, and ,tho corafter having /.taken legal, advice as : to..its .position, has .decided, to fight-for its-rights and' to' protect, tho interests of the people; It is alleged that the/Government is determined to issu'o tho Ordei-iii-Cbuiicil which the city "has been opposing so strenuously, hut,' as- stated,- the council resolved to .fight'the '..issue... at all ..hazards, and,-./-unless a- satisfactory' settlement, is/'arriral at, tho matter/ will probably'.; bo re,'ferred to tho,'law/Courts.' From ..thc.--.cpun-cil's view-point the position is that the company, is seeking rights against the city, and the, council,; as-trustees: for -the- people,;.are determined -to test this action. ■ ■■''■;■ '/-■■' • ■'■"■' The •following: is a copy' of. -a letter, /dated July 2(3,. forwarded .to the Actiiig-Prirric Minister.'by the Town 'Clerk, which letter defines.the' position /of /tho 'city:—'-'Hoappli-cation by.-the Wellington Gas -Company for aii/Order-in-Couiicil consenting'-,to the' laying of: a. main connecting-: Wellington/city, with Miramar: /Following: my letter/to you',; dated July 24, I now:have; the'.honour//p --inform you'that -at a meeting of the"council's; GaY Committee, . held yesterday, l after consulting■'. .with'Mr/'iC. P. Skerrett;.-.the. council's legal adviser'-. in the matter, tho following '■.•''•^'resolution'.ft was unanimously ; v ■./, '■■ -' ■ ./'-Tha'tj/ as /thb. managing director ,of the Wellington Gas Company lias, on behalf/of ; theft/company, repeatedly, declined to recbgnisb the rights'which the City Council claim in'/respect,of'the'.corpbratibn's ownership of the - streets/- of; the; city of : Wellington, ...this, .committee recommend/thb council.to'instruot 'and "'authorise ,thb City ; : Solicitor '.to apply for./ani.injunctipn.to-restrain, the. Government frdm issuing an Order-in-Couhcil, under ;the provision's of The Gas' Supply |Act', IQOS, consenting to, the■ .laying' of. a..'gas main con.necting ::Weiliiigtbii_'city with Miramar.'// ;. ; ."'lv-am'/furtherj.direct,ed to. state that 'proceedings/will/be cbmmencod. forthwith', ; and to':respectfully.'suggest,.that', pending the,do-/ .Wmination.-.therebf, ■/withheld;'!,'/!;:;:: -■/: ;,';'/-,/" '■'';..' ///,

■!'■' A ; copy.■of , ab'ove';.loHei\;/haSy,al§o//beou, .fpnyarejed .-;-to; :th'e i --6'as'-'pbmpahy..Vi' ; ;i:f f ;V-';'-:.y

REPLY BY THE HON. J. CARROLL

. : last fiiigh't, ..the; /Acting-Prime Minister (Hon/- J. /Carroll) stated'tnat lie- had replied to. the City Council /acknowledging' the receipt / of' -.the letter....He, had.-suggbsted to' the.council that,\ in -viewof the attitude; whieli it:had taken lip in connection, witi .tli^.matter,'tho proposed proceedings should be 'brought,:'as promptly, as' ( pcssibTe/' /If. it was. considered that": 'there/was 'a legal point/which -should be tested,..it.was; desirable./that tho:.matter, shbuld/cpme' up .at the current': sittings ;.of ■the Court .of Appeal,;'so as to.'prevent.un-' rieceMary/ delay. ,■; '';.-' { ■■;:■','.';.-'.-•,;,-'. ;. .'.:'■■/'•';