THE FINAL FLARE OF A BURNING TOPIC.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1111, 26 April 1911, Page 8

THE FINAL FLARE OF A BURNING TOPIC.

HOSPITAL LIGHTINC. DECISION FOR ELECTRICITY. HEATED MEETING. The. famous lighting question which has disturbed the peace of the. Hospital Board for some time, past- was finally settled at the meeting of that body yesterday, but not until an animated discussion had taken place.

The Lighting Committee, of which Mr. R. i... Kirk is chairman, recommended to tho board that tho offer of tho City Council to supply the hospital with electricity for lighting at tho rate of 3d. per unit, bo accepted, and that the committee be empowered to arranco for the installation at a cost of £600. The committee further asked for-power to arrange terms for the continued use of gas for heating purposes, and to consider and report upon tho question of heating water for ward use, and also the most economical heating of tho board's buildings. Moving tjip adoption of the report, Mr. Kirk said that members would see from perusing it that, under the terms offered, electricity was cheaper than gas. Tho £600 for installation, would be saved in a few years. Mr. Gardener stated that he was not going to allow this report to pass without Eomp comment. It deserved a good deal of comment and of consideration. Would the Electric Lighting Department instal the'light? Mr. Kirk: "Specifications will bo drawn in the ordinary way, and be submitted to public tender. The officials of tho Lighting Department will simply superviso the work." The Donate Develops. After some further questions as to points of detail, Mr. Gardener said ho desired to enter his protest against tho board entering into the agreement. He was going to prove that there must be something more in this matter than appeared. It was a remarkable thing— this offer to supply electricity at 3d. per -unit—because officials of the corporation and the Mayor Mr. Hiiidmarsh rose to a point of order. The motives of the City Council, he submitted, were ,uot relevant. ■ The chairman: "I think that the matter can be discussed very satisfactorily without considering the motives of the council. They must be accepted as bona fide." Mr. Fitzgerald: "They know their own business." Mr. Gardener: "I think the board should take, ijito consideration that the officials of the council and the Mayor ■have stated publicly that at the price electricity is supplied in Wellingtonsay sixpence per unit—there is scarcely a farthing per unit profit." Mr. Fletcher: "That statement was never made." "He is Muddled Ratherl" In face of further protests, Mr. Garde.ncr contended that people .should know of tho statement that it cost ojd. to produce electricity in Wellington. Members:. "Wrong again." Tho chairman said the point before tho meecting was simply: "Shall we adopt this report or not?" Anything else was irrelevant. Mr. Gardener: "If the City Council does not know its duty to the ra.tc'-)i payers, it seems to me we ought 'to teach them." Tho chairman: "Wo can discuss the wbolo universe if you like, if we drag.it in in this way." Mr. Gardener, remarking that he could not for the life of him see- where tho consistency of the council came in, was proceeding to quote from a statement which lie said was prepared recently by a member of the board's Lighting Committee, "Mr. Fitzherbert," wheji no was again interrupted. Members: "Fitzgerald, not Fitzherbort." Mr. Fitzgerald: "I would say, Mr. Chairman, that he (Mr. Gardener) is muddled rather!" The "Gag" Proposed, Mr. Kirk hoped Mr. Gardener would not make use of confidential information prepared for tho uso of members. The information now supplied was authoritative. Mr. Gardener was again interrupted by a protest from Mr. Fitzgerald, when he stated that Mr. Fitzgerald or. any member of tho board who circulated a statement such as he (the speaker) held in his hand, was biassed. "Movo that he be not heard," suggested Mr. Hindniarsli. Mr. Fitzgerald: "No, I don't wantto deprive him of the little he has to say, but I maintain that the Mayor of Levin (Mr. Gardener) has no right to make references to the City Council or to say that I am biassed." Mr Fletcher: "Let us address ourselves to the question. We have a report before us." Mr. Gardener said the offer of tlie council meant that £250 a year would cohie out of the ratepayers' pockets.' Mr. Fletcher: "Not-at all." Mr. Gardener: "Surely to goodness it is not impossible to act honestly and straightforwardly in a matter of this kind." Mr. Hindniarsli, addressing the chairman, asked him to support his ruling. The chairman said he did not wish to bo hard on Mr. Gardener, but that gentleman was trying his patience. Mr. Hindniarsli: "I will movo that, as Mr. Gardener has repeatedly defied the chair, he be not further beard." Mr. Nash: "You want to ho equally strict with Mr. Hindmarsh, because ho has defied the chair on several occasions." Mr. Van Staveren: "No one takes Mr. Hindniarsli seriously." Mr. Gardner denied that he had defied the chair. Mr. Fitzgerald said Mr. Gardner was like a ship without a compass. "An Excellent Bargain." Mr. Godber said he would confine himself to the. report. Whatever the position might be from the point of view of the City Council, tho board had made an excellent bargain. If the City Council liked to indirectly subsidise the Hospital Board, said Mr. M'Ewon, that was tho council's I business. Mr. London did not think the chairman was justified in preventing Mr. Gardener saying what ho wished to say. "If a tender 'came in," said Mr. London, stating a parable, "and someone said, 'That man stole those goods and that- is why he offers them so cheaply,' you would '.not be justified in accepting that tender." Proceeding to definitely criticise the City Council, Mr. London was pulled up by the chairman. Mr. Kli'tdier said that up tn the present time the discussion had not touched the question before* the meeting at all. The board had a business offer before it, and, if it was satisfied that tho work involved could be carried out as well and cheaply as in the past, it was the board's duty to accept the. offer. Experience on another body bad convinced the speaker that electricity was far cheaper than gas. There- was no further discussion, and tho motion to adopt; tho report of the committee was carried on tho voices.