THE WAIPORI POWER BILL

Evening Star, Issue 12307, 23 September 1904, Page 4

THE WAIPORI POWER BILL

ORGANISED OPPOSITION. THE CITY MUMPERS ACT JOINTLY. [Puoii Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 25. Tho prospects of Hie Waipori Power Rill passing in anything like the form in which it has been reported to the House by the Select Committee to whom it was referred are not encouraging. Ir had been the intention of Mr Ell to move that tho report Ire disagreed with and the Bill referred to a committee, of the whole; but he was dissuaded from this course by tho objectors to the measure, as the rejection of such an amendment would have meant the adoption of .the report as brought down. The Dunedin City members are to confer as to tho course of action to be taken when tho report of tho Special Committee comes, up for consideration next week.

The suggested plan of campaign is on those lines:—Mr Millar will, in the first place, move that tho Bill bo referred back to the Special Committee with an instruction to strike Dunedin out of the preamble. Should this not be carried by a majority of the House, after discussion, Mr Arnold will move in tho direction of the company's power being limited in regard to the opening up of streets, erecting poles, etc. Mr Bedford will also propose an amendment in the way of further protecting local bodies and limiting lire company's power in the ma'tor of lighting. Should the Bill reach the Legislative Council, the Hon. Mr Carncroes will take charge of it there. At a special meeting of the Otago Trades and Labor Council last evening the following resolution was carried;—“ That this Council earnestly appeals to tho Ministry and to (ho House of Representatives to amend the Waipori Falls Electric Power Company’s Bill in such a manner that the company cannot introduce electric power into the. City of Dunedin without-the sanction of the Dunedin Municipal Council, and views with alarm any attempt by Parliament to grant suds powers to- a private company as may enable it. in the near future to weaken or completely paralyse municipal enterprise and entail great financial loss to tho municipality through the capital now invented, and to be invested, in providing ample electric power for the total requirements of the City. This Council, therefore, strongly protests against any privileges being granted to this company or any company where municipal enterprise has already been established." Ihe following is a copy of the telegram sent by the Caversham Borough Council to Mr T. K. Sidcv. M.H.E. ;—“Members of the Caversham Council, bv 7 to 2, decided that, as we will he part" of Dunedin, we desire you to act in the City’s interest re Waipori Falls Electric Power Company.” Notice of motion to rescind the previous resolution with regard to tho Bill was also given.