THE LIGHT QUESTION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 135, 31 July 1911, Page 5

THE LIGHT QUESTION.

DR. PAGET’S ACTION

. Interviewed regarding the letter of Mr. •j* Fredric, m Saturday’s issue, ndentioning that Dr. Paget had left the meeting of the Borough Council Iffild to consider the light question, Dr Paget said: “The position is as follows —The Council went into commitdiscuss an offer from the Electic. Supply Company, giving the price n bq paid for the goodwill and the Conditions under which the undertakto be taken over. Cr. King bplpj? a guarantor of the company, and thdfeby neavily interested in the sale, Ij-'raisod the question of the propriety pi his presence at- the meeting, especially as it was in committee, and as fttich- would not be publicly reported. J'therefore moved that the Council discuss the question of Cr. King’s pre6ehCb during the deliberations on the light - question in open meeting, and moved that the Council resume for that purpose. This\tho Council declined to do, and I stated that I would not give my opinions or enter , ihto any discussion in committee on the fjuestion of taking over the light works until the question of the propriety of Cr. King’s presence was settled., I consequently retired from that committee meeting. The reasons for ,rSy retirement are, I think, sufficiently obvious—namely, that if delibera-tions.-are °f such a nature that the ratepayers cannot be taken into the fefinfidence of the Council regarding them it is obviously improper to hold those deliberations in the presence of one of- the vendors. I wish to add tliat'l am not in any way reflecting on Cr. King’s character, nor do I wish , th' make this a personal matter, in any ■ rbSfiect. I ’ merely think that before He is-allowed to sit at least the matter should bo discussed in open coun- , cili’i- • gOROUCH COUNCIL COMMITTEE’S REPORT. -.; if ■ . . NOT TO BE PUBLISHED. One or two correspondents have recefitly written to the Editor of this paper asking why the Borough Council fiub-fcommittee’s report regarding the proposed purchase of the Electrical Supply Company’s works had not beep, -published. We can only state tHsi-tho matter was dealt with in condinittee, and that his Worship the Majihf has informed our representative thhfc the report is not yet available to tjie press, as it is considered that itS-publication would prejudice the arin their work. Publication at sent) said his Worship, would be uhfiiir to the arbitrators; but as soon the arbitrators had completed their labours the report would be available fßr publication.