GAS MAINS AND STREETS.

Taranaki Herald, Issue 13917, 29 May 1909, Page 2

GAS MAINS AND STREETS.

POSITION IN WELLINGTON. Per Press Association. •> WELLINGTON, May 28. A deputation, comprising the Mayor and soveral city councillors, waited on the Prime Minister this afternoon in reference to the recent legislation permitting tho Wellington Gas Company to take its mains through the streets of Wellington. The Mayor explained there was a proviso that the Act could only bo put into operation by an Ordor-, in-Council. Tho right of the Gas Company to operate in the streets of Wellington for all time and shift everything that came in its road was a violation of the rights of local government. The deputation urged that the Government should not grant the company's request for an Ordor-in-Couu-cil. The corporation was negotiating; for the purchase of its works, and if the council bought out the company there would be no need for the -present agitation, but if the negotiations failed i the council wanted to see that the Order-in-C6uncil was not granted in a certain part of the district. The City Council had a right to start gas works of its own. Therefore those rights should not be granted to anybody else. Sir Joseph Ward sai<3 the representations of the deputation would have the fullest consideration. The Government had not agreed to havo the OOrderr r in-Council executed. He believed in municipally-owned gas works. He understood negotiations were ffoing on For tho purchase by the council, but ho thought finality should have boon reached before now. This matter should not be delayed indefinitely on the assumption that the Order-in-Coun-cil would not be put into- operation. The Mayor said the council and company were in most active negotiation. Sir Joseph Ward said he would "stand off" till he saw what went on, one way or the other.