HUTT GASWORKS

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 41, 17 August 1921, Page 9

HUTT GASWORKS

TO TB« EDITOR.

Sir, —As a constant reader 'of your paper I should be pleased to be allowed space for the publication of this letter re the Lower Hutt and Petone gas question. As a ratepayer and a councillor for the past four years, I have taken a keen interest in the above-mentioned controversy, and have endeavoured, with unbiased mind, to solve the problem in fairness and justice to both boroughs, While I agree that one up-to-date gasworks would do for the Hutt Valley, provided joint control and profit-sharing were in operation, I would point out that all endeavours on the part of Lower Hutt to Eecuvo this satisfactory settlement were unavailing after many and long conferences 'with Petone. The Lower Hutt Council, having- now exhausted all means of securing a fair dea--from Petone, decided that the one course left open to it was to unreservedly take the ratepayers into ite confidence, and from this decision resulted a public meeting. It will be remembered that the Mayor and councillors did not conduct that meeting in any underhand.'manner, but presented the whole of the facts without equivocation. Two possible solutions were put before the ratepayers: (1) To enter into a new' contract with Petone; (2) to erect up-to-date works for Lower Hutt. It will also, be remembered that the council did not rely on its own unaided efforts in presenting arguments for or against the questions raised; but had on the platform Mr. Ford, a gentleman who is considered one of the leading gas experts in Australasia. This gentleman gave clear and definite reasons why the Lower Hatt should have its own gasworks. That this was no hasty opinion, but the result of.deep local investigation and long general experience, was evident from the report from which Mr. Risbworth had previously covered the ground. Suffice it to say, that after listening to arguments and reasons for over three hours, the I'atepayers present unanimously decided that a -poll should be taken on the question of raisin? a loan for the erection of gasworks. The result of the poll taken was overwhelmingly in favour of the erection of our own gasworks, and is, I think, a clear indication. of the reposed in Mr. Rishworth by the ratepayers of thi& boroug-h. Mr. Rishworth has personally spared neither time ;nor expense in trying to reach a settlement of this vexed question in the, best interests of the community, arid'should, in my opinion, not hesitate to crown his efforts by immediately proceeding with the erection of the gasworks.—l am, etc., -

A. MACASKILL.

15th August.