"MOST ARBITRARY"

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1301, 2 December 1911, Page 6

"MOST ARBITRARY"

MAYOR OF MIRAMAR ON WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL.

"I think the City Council's action most arbitrary," said the Mayor of Miramor (Mr. J. Broilie), when consulted yesterday as lo what ho thought of the Mirarnar Borough's proposal to supply clectrie energy for the running of the trams within the borough being "turned down" by the City Council. "I really do not understand their action as yet. Hero is a health);, young, progressive borough, whicli provides almost the only handy outlet for Wellington's overflowing population, which has to erect n powei station iu connection with ..its drainago scheme, and is advised by 1 sound experts that it would bo economical to erect a large powor-houso while wo are about it, and supply ourselves with power for lighting and energy for the trams within oilr boundaries. The matter.has been carefully thoupht out, and the figures keenly scrutinised, with the resuit that wo find that we could save ,£2OOO a year by tho erection of such a powerhouse as is proposed. We go to the City Council, as a matter of formality, to ask to bo allowed to feed Uie cars whilst running within our boundaries, and aro informed that they will consent to nettling of the sort. Wo could savo ififlOfl a year on our present cost, but avo not to bo allowed to do so, because wo will cease to become a customer to the city." "One would havo thought that tho City Council would havo encouraged such enterprise," continued Mr. Brodic, "and I, for one, do not see that they havo tin power to provent us doing what wo propose. _ With tho future Miramar has before it, a powcr-houso will always bo a real live asset, particularly as industries and manufactories aro planted on Miramar flat.

Ono point I think tho City Council should consider is th« amount of revenue contributed Iby Miramar residents in travelling over the city lines. It must approximate over £0000 a year, and about a further JC3OOO is at present paid to tho council for car' mileage within tho bor. ongL. Wo have been quite frank in stating the annual loss on our tramways, but now that wo liavo devised n scheme to curtail' that loss, objection is taken bv the ono body that should bo out to assist us.