THE LIGHTING QUESTION

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 136, 1 August 1911, Page 6

THE LIGHTING QUESTION

(To the Editor, Stratford “Post.”)

Sir, —When urging that the report of the sub-committee dealing with the electric light question should ho published I did not .anticipate such a reply as made by the Mayor and reported in your columns as the result of an interview. , The Mayor's reply is surely not at all likely to give the ratepayers confidence in the ne- | gotiations and handling of the n ; tter by the Council. The goodwill can have nothing whatever to do with the valuation of the syndicate’s plant and if the fact of making known tbc amount of goodwill it is suggested should he paid “would prejudice the arbitrators in their work,” then the sooner some other method is put into operation the better. However, tor my part, 1 do not see iiow the arbitrators could ho affected iu the matter, and the valuation of the plant should not require the employment of very high experts to arrive at a fair valuation. From the Council’s point of view the statement made by the Mayor can only mean that if the arbitrators knew the amount of the goodwill they might possibly make their valuation higher than they would have done otherwise. This being so the deduction is that the goodwill is too high. Whatever the suggested goodwill is the syndicate have signified their acceptance of it, therefore they could not raise any.objection of “prejudice” on the part of the arbitrators. No\y, as to the arbitrators: Would not vMuatais have been the correct term to use in respect of the exports employed to value the plant, • seeing that there is the contingency of the ratepayers not agreeing to the terms arrived at by the Council ? Hy calling the valuators arbitrators it would suggest that the Council take it for granted that when the valuation is made the last word has been said and the whole thing fixed. To conclude, 1 hold to the opinion that the refusal of the Mayor (or is it the whole Council, or a majority of tire Council?) to publish the sub-commit-tee’s report is doing and will do more to prejudice the position than any other course that 'might be taken by a well-meaning hut misguided public body.-—I. am, etc., ' RATEPAYER. Stratford, July .‘list, 1011.