GASWORKS FOR HUTT

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 38, 13 August 1921, Page 6

GASWORKS FOR HUTT

"Hutfc Ratepayer," in a letter to The Post, states that from the report in Tuesday's issue of the Lower Hutt Borongh. Council's meeting, one is apt to get. a falso impression of the real, position in. regard to the Hutt-Petone gas Question. The issue has been so , clouded through the senseless-exclusion of'the press from the various meetings held,T.hat,the - main facts are lost sight of. "Mr. Strand is represented as having made strenuous ©Sorts to continue negotiations with, Betone. What was the basis of these-negotiations? As late as'last Thursday tfhe'Petone repre- I stated they had no case to discuss with the Hutt representatives, , when they met in conference. Moreover, the Mayor (Mr. Kishworth)' and the last council had discussed the question over a long period without result, the Petone Council showing no disposition to arrive at a settlement., In any case, it' may be ■well^to remind Mr. Strand that flhe rateipay-ers in Juno last put a period to these negotiations, or discussions, by authorising the council, by a straight-out vote, .to borrow the money and go on with the erection of its own gas-producing plant. ; . . The.wte was so emphatic that it proved that tfie ratepayers had unboimded confidence in Mr. Rishworth, who has,

throughout his ,■ term of office, shown commendable enterprise in carrying out \ a progressive policy, of which the district so much stands in need.' •