ELECTRIC LIGHTING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16558, 23 May 1914, Page 14

ELECTRIC LIGHTING.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—-The Mayor’s statements in connection with this matter are very much on a par with many of the statements lie has mado in connection with publio affairs. They partake a little too much of tho “ yes-no ” liabit.' He says that tho Council was following a very careful course in regard to the scheme. Yes, a _ very careful course. The various private firms aro associated, tlieir prices are arranged on a scale, there is no competition, their charges are all tlio same, and, considering that by a moderate estimate tho amount' of work handed over to them will run well into £100,009, it will be readily seen that a large amount of this will bo profit, which, had tho work been, dono in the direction of wiring up the houses apd providing fittings at cost by the municipality, a very large 6um would havo been saved the consumers.

Tho Mayor states that the money authorised by the loan was not forthcoming until the latter end of February last, and was not placed to tho credit of the Council until the 6th inst., and that it would havo been unwise to have operated on an overdraft from tho bank for the supply of fittings, etc. Was it unwise to proceed with the erection of the power station? Was it unwise to purchase largo quantities of cables and other material? Was it unwise to put the work in hand? If not, why is it unwise to supply fittings, wiring material, etc. ? The fact of the matter is that the statement with regard to the lighting of tho Fire Brigade Station shows that the Mayor is absolutely out of touch with the principles of municipal trading and control. He states that it cost the Council 24s per light, whereas tho same work could have been undertaken by private firms for 17b 6s per light. My own experience is that to connect my home and provide lights by private firms (ten lights) will cost me not less than' 35s per light, according to tho estimate given by the Council’s representative. How conies it that I have to pay these private firms 35s per light if they could havo done the Fire Brigade work at 1.7 s (id per light? Tho Mayor again states that the rear bou that tho fittings are not ordered is due to the fact that the Council’s engineer lias been too busy with other matters to prepare a list of fittings to be ordered. If tho Council cannot do the work as efficiently as private firms can, it is a grave reflection on tho management, and the Mayor and councillors are not exempt in the matter. —I am, etc., R.M.S.

TO TUB EDITOR.

Sir.—ln reply to Mr Holland, I deny emphatically that the Council has operated in the best interests of the citizens. Is it not a fact that th'o whole cost of wiring the houses has been handed over to private business firms, that this cost will lie about three-fifths of the whole cost, that the estimate for ten lights is £l2 10s, for eight lights £10? Could this not have been done cheaper by the Council? If not, what sort of business men are controlling it? The private Anns would not undertake the work without profit. Further, Mr Holland states that the loan was not granted until the end of February—three months ago. Was that not good enough to work on? The fittings could have immediately been sent for. On Mr Holland’s own showing nothing has yet been done in the matter. This is either incompetency or something worse. Ten thousand pounds will ho a conservative estimate of the amount filched from the people. To settle any doubt in the matter, tho whole work of wiring has been handed over to private firms, and it is completely out of the Council’s hands.—l am, etc., WYATT E. JONES.