Light for the County.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11, 13 January 1914, Page 5

Light for the County.

MUCH-DISCUSSED LICENSE.

BOROUGH COUNCIL MOTION. At last night’s meeting of the Borough Council the Mayor moved the following motion:— “That this Council mace on record satisfaction at the determination of th.e Government as conveyed by letter to the Stratford County Council, not to grant the issue of the proposed license to the Electrical Supply Company, and that this resolution be conveyed to the Minister for Public Works, with a request that copies of any petitions bearing on the issue of the said lincense bo furnished to the Council; a committee to be set up consisting of Cr. Thompson and the mover to draft a covering letter to be forwarded with the resolution.”

In moving the motion the Mayor said that he thought it proper that the Borough Council should receive copies of all petitions presented to the Government on the matter. He desired to make one point clear. There j were ratepayers—both Borough and 'County—who thought that if the proposed license were granted they would inevitably get current on application. The true position was that the County ratepayers would only get current if the business in their vicinity warranted the company running out wires. Cr. Morison thought the Council should congratulate the Mayor and Cr. Richards on the manner in which they had represented the views of the Council. Personally, he had refrained from engaging in the recent newspaper controversy, although he had been tempted to do so. It had been endeavored to be laid down that there were only a few members of the Council who supported the Mayor and Or. Richards; but he could say that the majority of the ratepayers supported their view. He was not opposed to the County having the light. He was not sure, but that it would bo a good idea for the Borough and County to combine to take over the Company’s undertaking. He thought it would come to that in the end—that, he thought, was the best way of securing the greatest good to the greatest number. He was not in favor of taking the plant for nothing. He believed in taking the plant at valuation. At the same time he did not favor paying £6OOO goodwill. Cr. Boon thought the motion should make it clear that the Borough did not object to the County having current, but was merely conserving Borough ratepayers’ interests.

The Mayor: That lias been fully put before the Government.

Cr. Dingle: I would like to see Cr. Masters included in the- committee.» which is to write the letter covering the resolution. Looking through the papers recently I saw that yourself (His Worship), and Cr. Masters and others have been going into the question, and I think it would he a great help if Cr. Masters was on the committee. I believe in both sides being represented.

Cr. Masters said he took no side in the matter. In the course of one of Ins letters Cr. Richards had said it was strange that Crs. King and Masters should use the same curious argument as Mr R. Masters.

Cr. Morison queried if the matter was in order; but after some discussion the Council decided that the matter might he discussed. Cr. Masters said that the remark of Cr. Richards in his letter seemed' to suggest that he (the speaker) and Cr. King were working in the interests of the Company. He had his own opinion, and he thought every Councillor had a right to express his opinion. He had not voted against the deputation going to Wellington.

Cr. Richards said that in his letter he had merely stated a plain fact—that the Councillors named took the same curious argument as Mr R. Masters. Cr. King: Why is the argument curious ? Cr. Richards: It is a curious argument to say that because the Borough objects to the present license that we object to a license granting current to the County separately. It is an argument so curious that I cannot understand it. The motion was carried