LONG DEBATE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27060, 20 April 1949, Page 6

LONG DEBATE

BOROUGH GASWORKS PORT CHALMERS COUNCIL When Cr J. G. Forgie moved at the meeting of the Port Chalmers Borough Council last night that the borough gasworks should be closed within six months, a topic which has been discussed by the council on many occasions was again the subject of a lengthy debate. . An amendment that the motion should be deferred until there was a decided improvement in the electricity supply position was carried. It was also decided that prior to any action being taken, the council should first obtain a judgment from the Supreme Court. Speaking to his motion. Cr Forgie said that the time had come when a final decision should be made, as the costs of the works were becoming far too high. “It is time the people of the borough knew that they were paying £3OO to £4OO a year towards its maintenance,” Cr Forgie said. “This includes payment by residents of Sawyers’ Bay and Carey’s Bay, for the money is taken from the general account,” he added.

The chairman of the Gas Committee, Cr W. Campbell, who moved the amendment, said that the main fault at the works lay in the retorts, and he held that if they were replaced the gas supply could be satisfactorily maintained for another 10 years. Because of the precarious state of the electricity supplies, present consumers would be adversely affected, and he considered such drastic action unwarranted, Cr Campbell added. Supporting the amendment, Cr H. Williamson said that the works were a public utility, and he claimed that the council would be committing an illegal act by which it would be making itself liable for compensation. Cr L. Crawford went further, maintaining that such action was not only illegal, but dishonest, as the renewal fund, which was set aside for one purpose, had to be considered. "If the council faced up to the situation and controlled the works properly the costs would not be so high,” Cr Crawford said. “Much can be attributed to the inefficiency of the council in handling the matter over the past two years,” he added. Speaking in ‘favour of the motion, Cr H S. Watson said that the works were so old that the time would come when they would have to be closed. The law referred to was framed in 1908, Cr Watson said, but he felt sure that no ruling would be given insisting that a bankrupt concern should be kept operating The Mayor, Mr T. Anderson, said that no more money could be paid out of the general account. Cr Campbell: Is that a threat? The Mayor: No, but we are not going to spend any more money on the gasworks to the detriment of other works in the borough. When he put the amendment, however, it was carried on a show of hands.