A SURPRISE PACKET.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16186, 24 July 1923, Page 3

A SURPRISE PACKET.

COUNCIL AND MINISTER. • Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. City Councillors were taken by surprise last night, when a letter from the Minister of Works was read, stating that if the council was prepared to forego tho remaining eiglitoen months’ electricity contract, which expires on March 31. 1925, tho Department is prepared to enter into a fresh contract for 10 years at a discount of 10 per 'cent, off the standard rates. The chairman of the electricity committee said that the Department’s offer was-somewhere about sixty per cent, increase on the present rates, and for the next eighteen months tho cost would bo £33,000 extra for electricity over and above tho present rate. The Mayor .said it was rather surprising at this late stage, after tho council had investigated tho Waimakariri scheme, that the Government should offer ten years’ contract in consideration of the council foregoing the present eontract. The report on tho Waimakariri scheme would bo available in a few days. ’ Councillor Howard, M.l\ : ,“We will have to fight on (lie floor of the House.” The Mayor: The time has corno wjien all the city members must light the battie on tho floor of tho House. The council decided to discuss the matter at a special meeting next Monday.