MUNCIPALISATION OF ELECTRIC LIGHTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13398, 29 January 1907, Page 5

MUNCIPALISATION OF ELECTRIC LIGHTING.

CHARGES COMPARED,

(MY TULKfiltAl'H. — OWN CORHESPONUKNT.]

Wellington, Monday. It it> interesting, in view of the coming miinicipalisation by the Wellington Corporation of the local private electric lighting business, to learn from Mr. Morton, city engineer, who has just returned' from a trip to Australia, that 'tin- same course already adopted in Melbourne has turned out a success. When the Melbourne Corporation commenced operations it Ixwght up the three private companies supplying electric light, in the city. The monopoly thus created has not been abused. When the corporation started supplying the electric current a charge of 7d per unit was made. baler that price was reduced a. penny, while now the cost to householders is 4i<l per unit. In Wellington the basis of the, price of electricity for the private consumer is Is per unit, less a sliding scale of discounts if the account is paid within a certain period, and also varying with the amount consumed. According to Mr. Morton, the cost >f production in Melbourne is not lower than it is in Wellington, yet we are paying double the price, considerable more in the caw» of a small consumer, and Melbourne made- £10,000 profit last year..