FAIR EXCHANGE NO ROBBERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2902, 27 October 1909, Page 26

FAIR EXCHANGE NO ROBBERY.

A CITY COUNCIL OFFER. Recently when the Dunedin City Council, in accordance with a contract with the Taieri County Council, brought in a supply; of electricity to Mosgiel, it became fippa-rent to tho members of tho Mosgiel Fire Brigade that if ore. of the live wires carrying the current became im-olved in a fire in the town, disastrous consequences might ensue* The matter wa; brought undar the notica of */ne local Borough Council, which re* furred it to the Taieri County Couiwi!. The latter body, in its turn, wrot; to fcho City Council asking that provision be made for pitching off the power from Mosgial iir the event of a fire threatening to interfere with the wires. At last week's meeting of the council, the town clerk of Dunedin acknowledged i the receipt of a communication from tho Tdieri Council, arrd continued : In r^plv, I am directed to point oufl to you, in the first place, that no provision is mad-^ for this contingency irj . the various deerfe of agreement that have been entered into from time to tima between the Taieri County and the city relating to the supply of electrical enorgv." Under these circumstances the City. Council cannot see that it is in any way under legal " obligation to do the work proposed in jour letter free of cost. A.t th»> same tim.i however, the City Couneii i?> anxious to moex, v<n*r views, and therefore is prepared— if your county will nob require (as you have already done) mj council to complete certain lines up fo certain points as per agreement date*! May 10, 1907, and will approve of the alteration of our sub-station from Curry's farm to Outrain— to instal just outsido the borough of Mosgiel a switch so arranged that any fireman in Mossiet com Id turn off the current. This switch' would cost considerably more than ttoh o proposed tolophono arrangement, but mi the opinion of our electrical engineer would be more prompt and otherwise effective. The Taieri Council's Electric Power Committee reported that it had had thia letter und-er consideration, and it reconsmeirdod that the following reply be sent: — Thai rhis council cannot sea its wav io accept your offer in ro the cutting off of electrical energy in Mosgiel fi* case of fire, and as this is a matter thafc affects the Mosgiel Boroutrh mainly, wo now leave the matter with you and if; to determine. . . That the City Council be advised that this council declines to discuss the matters contained in the former agreements until bhe obligations nr said agreements are carried our. Tl-« County Council, with little comment, adopted this report.