MIRAMAR'S GAS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 137, 11 June 1909, Page 4

MIRAMAR'S GAS.

GAS COMPANY AND CITY COUNCIL OBJECTION TO THE ORDER-IN-COUNCIL. ' MR C. J. CRAWFORD ON THE SITUATION. Mtraniar has its gasworks and" general plant, ■ but so far it has not the gas. Therp are no mains, and the borough considers that the works would serve a more useful purpose if the gas could' be distributed. The company desires, to carry its main into Miramar via Melrose. An Order-in-Coiuieil is required to empower the company to do tHis, and a deputation recently waited .on the Prime Minister, making strenuous objection to the Gas Company being granted an Order-in-Council. THE BATTLE OF THE RATEPAYERS. The .Mayor (Mr. C. J. Crawford) overhauled the whole question pretty 'thoroughly at last night's meeting of the Miramar' Borough Council, and he had the support of members to his remarks. The Gas Committee, he began, had been j empowered to deal comprehensively with the question of obtaining the grant of an Order-in-Council to enable the Wellington Gas Company to connect the city and Miramar by reticulation. The council's present agreement with the company '-had no force until the Order-in-Council was granted. In striving after this ord<^r they wero fighting the battle of the ratepayers, not thst of the Gas Company. ' . Miramar's affairs were greatly mixed up with the Gas Company and the Harbour Board schemes ; the latter in con■niection, particularly, with the Evan's Bay reclamation and other propositions. Towards the £5000 subsidy to the Harbour Board the council expected a very considerable guarantee from the Gas 'Company. The council, after beginning negotiations with the Gas Company, felt that it would be somewhat discourteous to the City Council to do anything against the interests of the city. On that ground negotiations between the frfro councils had been delayed in order that the negotiations of the city with the "Gas Company might be completed. But they could not delay for ever, and Miramar -fixed up with the Gas Company. CITY' COUNCIL'S OPPOSITION, - When the argrecment was consummate-* ed with the Gas Company the Wellington City Council was informed of it. At the same time the > hope* was expressed that the council would facilitate matters by putting nothing in , the way of a successful and satisfactory issue. No answer had been received to that communication, and the next thing was a deputation to the Prime Minister from the City Council, putting its views before him. Under the circumstances it was but just to the Miramar ratepayers that the suburban council's views should be demonstrated. The Gas Committee then laid- its case before Dr. Newman. It particularly asked that tho City Council, in its negotiations, shculd deal^only with the item of the main from Newtown across the old Melroso district into Miramar. DEPUTATION'S OBJECTIONS. Mr. Crawford proceeded to detail and criticise the objections put forward by th« deputation to 'Sir' Joseph Ward. As regarded the first claim— that the road through Melrose would be pulled up, thus violating the rights of local government. — there was nothing in it. Under Section 9 of the Gas Supply Act, 1908, the Gas Company were empowered to put down mams in the streets, provided that the work entailed as little damage as possible, that all replacements we made, and that reasonable compensation be paid. Further, the 1870 Act provided the company with full powers to lay mains on condition that the streets were left in as good order- as before excavation, and that they be maintained till all subsidence had finished. The company had raised absolutely no objection to giving a deed giving to the local council fullest control of the main : all stipulations in this direction had been granted. Would not the company do the same for the City Council if asked for such ? The speaker was sure that a similar deed could be obtained from the company, binding the company to put down no connection, no reticulation, but simply a main. PROGRESSING." The question of the negotiations for purchase of the company's Wellington plant was next touched upon. The second point advanced by the deputation was that, with negotiations for purchase proceeding, fresh right should not be given. The City Mayor stated that negotiations were absolutely progressing. Such a statement, coming from the Mayor, observed Mr. Crawford, might lead to a serious misunderstanding. As a matter of fjtct, negotiations were started in September, 1904 — five years ago. "Are we to wait till these negotiations for purchase are completed — perhaps another five years hence — before we can get the Order-in-Council?" asked the speaker. He thought not. ~ NO CONCESSION GRANTED. Mir. Crawford said that the committee had looked fully into the question of the supply of gas to the district. and new municipal works. Unofficially, too, he had considered with the then Mayor, the matter of joint works to be administered by Wellington and Miramar Councils. He came to the conclusion that the Gas Company could supply the district with gas quicker and cheaper than it could ever hope- to be done* locally. Then negotiations were entered into with the company. As to the contention that a concession was being made to the company in agreeing to allow it to supply a sparsely settled district with gas, he failed to see where it came in. The con cession talk was all an absurdity. On the other hand, he (the speaker) believed that the undertaking would depreciate the property of the company, and then the City Council would have a better opportunity to purchase. SUMMED UP. Summarised, tho circumstances weie as follow : — The Miramar Borough, in connection -with the Harbour Board scheme, looked to the Gas Company as one of its principal guarantors ; that there was no concession in the matter ; the company had already spent £45,000, and it proposed a further outlay of £120,000 in the >near future, which would ,be a justifiable' expenditure of public funds when employment 'waa none too plentiful,' and finally, that the objectors to the Order-in-Council wer,e actually asking the Gas Company to make payment, not ,to the, Miramar Bdropgh, but to others, lor (he right to supply the borough with gas. The la-st contention was characterised as an extraordinary one. In conclusion, Mr. Crawford expressed a nope for an amicable arrangement. He trusted that the City Council would .see its way clear to withdraw its objections to this very necef-pary extension of the Gas Company's works. * Brother councillors concurred in all that had been said. A local deputation is to bo arranged to lay the borough's position before the authorities.