COUNCIL AND COMPANY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13916, 29 May 1909, Page 6

COUNCIL AND COMPANY.

(TTTIXG rP_ STREETS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 28. \ deputation comprising the. Mayor and several Citv Councillors waited on tho Primo Minister this afternoon, m reference to recent legislation permittin"- the Wellington Gas Company to tnlte its main through the streets ot Wellington. - The Mavor explained that there was a proviso'that the Art could only he put into oneration hv an Ordor-in-Council. The right of the Gas Company to finerate in the streets ot Wellington for all time, and shiit everything that came in its road, was violating "the rights of local government. Tlie deputation urged that the Government should not grant the Company's request fo:- an Ordor-in-Couneil. The Corporation was negotiating with the Companv for the purchase of the works and if ' the Council bought out the Company there would he no need for the present agitation, hut if the negotiations failed the Council wanted to see that the Order-in-Council was not granted in a certain part of the district. The Citv Council had l!.e right to start gasworks of its own, therefore those rights should not bo granted to anvhodv else. Sir J. Ward said that the renresentations of tho deputation would have the fullest consideration. The Government had not agreed to have ;•>! Order-in-Council executed. lie believed in municipally owned gasworks. He understood that negotiations tt-rc going on for the purchase by the Council; but thought finality should

have boon readied before now. I Ins matter should not be delayed indefinitely <jii the assumption that au Order-m-Coitneil would not lie put into operation. The Mayor said the, Conned and the. Company 'were in most aetive negotiations. . ■ Sir J. 0. Ward said lie would "stand off" till he saw what went on one way or the other.