SHALLOW PLAY IN WORDS AND PHASES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 96, 23 December 1913, Page 6

SHALLOW PLAY IN WORDS AND PHASES.

[To The Editor Stratfohd Post.]

Sir—Messrs Kirkwood and Richards tumble over one another to assure the County settlers that they are only looking after the Borough's interests and the County settleis, who are the real main stay of the Borough,ean look after their own. They, with an air childlike and bland, prove, their words hy quoting a resolution of the Borough Council no doubt inspired by themselves reiterating what they so selfishly say "They don't oppose the license to the County. The Borough doesn't. A mere playing on words. The undoubted effect of their opposition to the Company's application is that the government have for the present at any rate refused the license. The Hon. Mr Eraser says: "The Borough authorities do not, however, see their way to support the application of the Company,, in fact strongly oppose it." It, must* be clear to Messrs Kirkwood, and Eichards, and to all reasonable men, that what Councillors Walters and Hathaway say is absolutely sound. Cr. Walters: "There was no use of the Company catering for the County unless the Borough,was included. If there were two in the district the cost of production would he so great that there would be no demand for the current at the price which would have to be charged." (He meant clearly to the County and County, settlers). * "There could be only one plant to supply the Borough and County." The County could not change its attitude unless the Borough could

give somo idea of what tliey would do 'for the County ratepayers if the Company ceased operations in 6 years. * Making such an agrement as the Borough had, had left the outlying districts in a precarious position, and if the Borough took over the plant they would he in a still more precarious position. The Minister would have to consider the County ratepayers no less than Borough ratepayers. All statesmen were endeavouring to -make country life more attractive."-•, Cr. Hathaway: "It was all very well for the Borough to say that they were not going against the County, hut thoy were. All the Borough was doing was to hoycott the County for 6 years in the matter of light." He might have added "and of power," and at the end of six years the Borough would, as Mr llichards writes you, in effect, consider the best interests of the burgesses and would protect the interests of the Borough. The interests ~of..the County settlors no doubt could go, hang as far as the Borough was concerned. Supporting Cr. Richards, Mr Kirkwood wrote: "The desire of the (Borough) Council and a majority of the (Borough) ratepayers Is to allow the present concession to run out, and to then take such action as may be deemed in the.best interests df-'tho'.(Bor-ough) ratepayers." Mark you, the Borough ratepayer; the County settler could again.no doubt go hang. The protestations of Messrs Kirk wood and Richards, that they and the Borough are not. opposing the getting of electricity, for light and power at a remajrk- ' ably cheap rate by the country,settlers are. too thin. They have opposed it and so far have succeeded. I quote Mr Kirkwoad: "1 am pleased to say that the Government have kept faith with; the Borough Council's deputation," meaning that the .Government have refused the application of the Electrical Supply Co., and have in effect with no real gain to the Borough,.deprived the country settlers of the supply of electricity for lighting and power so much desired and required by them. Messrs Kirkwood and Richards are naturally] pleased at the success of their recent action, but have no right to obscure the'basis and pretend that the country has not suffered. Business men will clearly see that they say they have not opposed the license for the County, they are merely playing with words or rather phrases. The country settlers, and not children or casuists, can undcrstan:!.cause and effect. I am not blaming the Borough. It is : a selfish world, and if the Borough cares to protect the. interest of the burgesses it is quite entitled to, but for. goodness sake let us have no cant about it. Let us compare tbe attitude of the ,two bodies: the County on one hand and the Borough on the other. Let us read what Messrs Kirkwood and Richards say and what Messrs Walters and Hathaway, and what the Council as a whole says. The latter took a broad and sensible view and the former a narrow and selfisl) one. I leave the Company out of it but I Icannot leave the Government. If ever there was a case requiring the decision of an independent third party this is it. Here we have admittedly the Borough fighting for its own ends

and saying to the County: ''We won't have anything to do with you, mind your own business and got your light and power," knowing full well that the County cannot by itself do anything of the sort. Obviously the sound solution of the problem is to give the Company the license asked for (which is harder against the Company and more favorable to the Borough than the original agreement which the Borough made with the Company) and let it supply the Borough and County uptn the terms at the price really fixed by the Government. Power being always reserved to the Borough and County to take over on twelve months' notice the Company's undertaking. No man, not eren Mr Kii'kwood and Mr Richard-; cr.u be a judge in his own cause,

Until the Borough sent its deputation to the Minister, the Government was quite satisfied that it was doing the right thing, and should have done it had the Borough not objected. Within a short time the country settlers, not to say anything of the dairy factories, would have had the benefit and advantage, of electric light and power. Thanks to Messrs Richards and Kirkwood, and the Borough, they are and will—unless the representatives of the Borough give up their selfish attitude—be without that benefit and advantage for all time. They cannot profitably run electric light works by themselves, and it is certain that at the end of six years, the Borough in taking such action as may lie deemed to lie in the best interests of the ratepayers, will do nothing for the country settler even if legally they could, of which I have very grave doubts. The proposed license to supply the Borough and County was drafted by the Government and is absolutely and incontestable fair and reasonable to all parties. It is a "square deal" all round. The Borough have not one word to say against its terms, and cannot say one. Their policy is that known as that of the "Dog in the manger," and must be condemned by all lair-minded and reasonable people. 1 will ask Messrs Kirkwood and Richards to rise superior to bias, and sweep away all past prejudice and bad feeling, and act in the interest of, not only themselves,, and the Borough ratepayers, but of those of the County ratepayers and the people who keep you and the Borough going. I would also ask the Government to consider the County settler. Theoretically, all statesmen love him and s*t,- how he 'must be encouraged, and how country life must be made more attractive. 1 trust the Government will put this theory into practice and lay aside any consideration pleasing Borough ratepayers alone, and do that which is just to the townspeople and at the same time greatly help the country man. Regretting taking up so much of your space,—l am, etc., ROBERT MASTERS. -