ELECTRIC SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 226, 12 June 1923, Page 5

ELECTRIC SUPPLY

POWER AND TOWN BOARDS QUESTIONS FOR THE COURT Elucidation of the position of two local bodies regarding the supply of electric current was sought before His Honour Mr. Justice Chapman in the Supreme Court yesterday. The parties in the matter, which

came before His Honour by way of an originating summons, were the Mayor and councillors of the Borough of Wanganui, the plaintiffs, and the Gonville Town Board. The following questions were set out for the Court to determine: (1) In view of the provisions of the Electric Power Boards Act of .1918 and its amendments, and in consideration of the constitution of the Wanganui-Rangitikei Electrical Power Board under such Act, comprising inter alia the borough of Wanganui and the Gonville Town District, is clause 15 of a deed of agreement of January 23. 1913, between the plaintiff corporation and the Gonville Town Board valid in effect and law? (2) If the deed is valid, can the Wanganui-Rangitikei Power Board and the Gonville Town Board be restrained from respectively supplying and receiving electric light and power in the Gonville town district without the consent of the plaintiff corporation? (3) In view of the provisions of the Wanganui Suburbs Lighting Act of 1903, can the Wanganui-Rangitikei Power Board be restrained from supplying electric light and power in that district? (4) Can the plaintiff corporation supply the Gon villa Town District with electric light and power with the consent of the local authorities controlling the district; (a) without obtaining a license uuder the Public Works Amendment Act of 1911; (b) without a license under that Act.

Mr. C. P. Skcrrett, K.C., with him Mr. W. J. Treadwell, appeared for the Wanganui Borough , Mr. W. A. Izard for the Wanganui-Rangiti-kei Power Board and the Gonville Town Board, and Mr. A. Fair for the Solicitor-General.

The Court adjourned until to-day, after partly hearing legal argument.