ELECTRIC LIGHTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11716, 26 July 1901, Page 6

ELECTRIC LIGHTING.

PROPOSED CITY SCHEME. EXPERT REPORT TO BE OBTAINED. At last night's meeting of the Auckland City Council tho Streets Committee reported having considered.the Auckland Electric Tramway. Company's letter- -re electric lighting of the city, and recommended that it' be empowered to obtain the sen-ices of an' expert electrical engineer from Australia to report as to the latest and most up-to-date system of electric lighting for the city with particulars of power required, cost and other necessary details. Mr. Kidd moved the adoption of the report. : -. , >.'. Mr. Baume moved ;asi an amendment, " That the Auckland Harbour- Board be asked to receive av sub-committee of the Council for the purposed of discussing the terms on which (1) the services of an engineer competent to take charge of the city and Haroour Board works may be obtained, or in the alternative (2) tho services of an expert electrical engineer' can be obtained to report to both bodies on the whole question of electric lighting and power." He said it appeared to him that tho Harbour Board and City Council should run togethei in obtaining an engineer. He believed the time had arrived when such an engineer should be employed, and he believed it would be true economy for the city to secure the services of a suitable man. There was nothing in his motion antagonistic to Mr. Wrigg, the present city engineer. He believed Mr. Wrigg was a capable man and.should be kept in the office subordinate to the new,engineer. In all probability the Council would in the near future be spending a large sum of money and the services of a thoroughly qualified engineer would be necessary. He had never been able to understand why the control of the harbour and of city affairs should be separated in a city like Auckland, and he hoped the day would soon come when an amalgamation would be brought about. He held that any councillor who. objected to the appointment of a first-class engineer was really opposed to the best interests of the city. On the alternative proposal he thought it was selfevident that it would be a waste of money foi both bodies to employ experts for the same purpose. Mr. Julian seconded. Mr. Kidd said this matter was discussed at the Harbour Board on Tuesday and the Board decided not to join with the City Council, and that being so, the matter could not be discussed at the Harbour Board again for six months. If Mr. Baume's motion was carried the only result would be delay. Mr. C. J. Parr objected to the question of a city engineer being dragged in upon a question of electric light. Even if they had a city engineer that engineer might say he would require the assistance of an eleotrical engineer on this question. "After the decision of the Harbour Board .he did not believe in the Council" going on its knees to that body. The Council should get expert advice on this question and get it at once. Mr. Masefielcl thought there should be no delay in getting, an' expert report*on electric light. The amendment was - put and declared lost. -. Mr. Parr then urged that the Council ought to send a reply to the Auckland* Tramways Company. He moved, as an addition to tho report, " That the Auckland.Electrio Tramways Company i be.- informed that the Council will not sell. lease, or delegate in any way the privilege of electric lighting." Pie thought the Council should reply at once, and tell the tramways that the Council is determined to take the matter :of electric lighting in its own hands for the benefit of the citizens. . .'-"•■< Mr. Hannan seconded. Mr. Hewson said if the expert reported that a company could supply electric light cheaper than the corporation could make it, Mr. Parr's motion would debar the Council from contracting with a company. . Mr. Kidd said the whole idea of the expert was to guide the Council as to whether,: it would be most advisable for the Council to manufacture the light or ;to ; make an arrangement with a company. "Clearly it was not the Council's interest to make the light themselves, if they could purchase it at a cheaper rate. His view was that the Council should get all the available information before deciding how the light was to be provided. v, '.'' v _ ■■ Mr. Masefield thought it would bo a mistake to adopt'.Mr. Parr's. motion. It might debar the Council from doing the best thing possible for the citizens. Mr. Baume said he was entirely in favour of municipalising everything they; possibly could in the way of public services, but he thought they should have the- expert report before coming to a decision, and in deciding they should keep in mind that the proper thing to do was to municipalise the ownership 1 even if they did not municipalise the actual carrying on of the work. In many cities in the Old Country the municipalities owned - the services, but; allowed them to be carried out by contract, in order to prevent the city having too large a staff of employees. Mr'. Parr said ho was prepared to modify his amendment, and put it, \ "That in .the meantime the. Tramways Company be informed that the Council will not sell, lease, or delegate the privilege of electric lighting." The amendment in this form was .accepted, and the report, with:the addition suggosted by Mr. Parr, was adpoted. At a later stage Mr. Hannan moved, in terms 5 of notice; That this Council instruct the Streets Committee to obtain the best experts' opinions on the latest and most up-to-date system of; electric lighting,, and estimates of the cost of plant, with a view to lighting the'city with electric light." He urged that on no account should be Council part with the right to deal in electric light. Mr. 1 Parr also expressed the hope that the Council, would not entertain the idea of letting this right go from the Council. - The motion was adopted. ~ ■ .