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Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 96, 23 December 1913, Page 5

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ELECTRfC COUNTY SCHEME

COUNCIL MISUNDERSTANDINGS.

[To The Editor Stratford Post.J

Sir,—As Cr. Richards, in his wisdom, has thought lit to bring my

name into the controversy now going on between himself, Hjs Worship the Mayor, and the Chairman of the Electrical Supply Company, it will be just as well for me to state what led up to anything I did say in connection

with the issuing of the license referred to. Cr. Richards, at the last meeting of the Borough Council, moved a. resolution condemning the action of the Stratford County' Council for interfering with the "business of the Borough Council," as—as ho put it—"for putting their ringer in the Borough pie." So strongly and offensively was that resolution worded that the Borough Council would not pass it until modified. Now. what I said was this, that the Borough Council had passed a resolution sending a deputation to Wellington with instructions to oppose the issue of a license to the Electrical Supply Company; not to modify it, nor any part of it, but to oppose the license. That is the resolution as it stands in the minute book, as anyone can see at the present time. My statement then was that the Borough, by that resolution, had poked its finger further into the County pie than the County had into the Borough pie, and that while it was right that we, as a Council, should look after the interest of the Borough, we had no right to try to deprive the ratepayers of the County of the electric current. At that stage His Worship assured us they had not in any way tried to interfere with the County. Then all I have to say is they did not act on the resolution or carry out the wishes of their Council (wisely, I admit). Now. as it has been pointed out, and previously understood by all concerned, there is no goodwill attached to this license. At the end of the concession the Borough will stand in precisely the same position as though there was no license in existence. Councillor- Richards has a right to his opinion : I have the same right; and if the time comes that I lack the courage to express my opinions, I will cease to represent the ratepayers of this town on the Stratford Borough Council. I still maintain the cost of the deputation to Wellington wonld . have been better . spent in putting down three chains of concrete kerbirig or in making a footpath for someone who has to walk home in the mud.—l am. etc.. J. MASTERS. Stratford, December 23rd.

QUESTIONS. [To The Editor Stratford Post.] Sir, —I notice -in Mr Massey's explanation of: the now famous 'James' Letter" that he quotes a letter from some temperance body as justification for his servant's act. But can any decent elector read anything into it that would damage anyone? Can anyone honestly say that Mr James' letter was not intended deliberately to damage politically or personally. Could you inform the public generally if Mr Hiley, our Railways' manager, chartered a boat to come to this country in. 1 notice that on the supplementary estimates there Is a sum of t(JS7 for bringing himself, wife and child from England. I wonder how long taxpayers are going to stand extravagance of this sort. I am, etc. "C4ARLICK."