The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 1915. THE ELECTRICAL PROJECT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CIII, Issue 15743, 30 August 1915, Page 6

The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 1915. THE ELECTRICAL PROJECT.

Xlie poll on the proposal to take over Jxessrs J. L. and (j. [Scott's electrical plant will be taken on Wednesday, and ratepayers sliould now be growing- tamiintr with, the arguments that have been urged ior and against the scheme. The case is one in which the short view and the long view have both to be considered. If the scheme is looked at only in its more immediate aspects it can be argued that the price asked for the works is dear enough, that Mr Maling's figures, promising an instant return from the business which will leave no need for trespassing on the Council's general account, are less than wholly satisfactory, since they make no definite allowance for depreciation, that the time is unfavourable for new civic ventures, and that- though the works may be a paying- proposition in the hands of their present owners, control by the Council, which lias not won general admiration for its conduct of the motor buses and quarry schemes, might tell a different tale. Whatever weight is given to these considerations of the short view, the long view, we believe, can lead to only one conclusion, the advisableness of purchase. If the present offer is rejected, and the works have to be bought, finally, under terms of the original agreement, the extra cost will be at- least £6OOO more. Till it controls the works the Council can make no terms for Lake Coleridge power, which should be available within two years from now, and thoug'h, under municipal control, the cost of eleetlric lighting would not be

reduced immediately, the prospect- of reduction in the future would be far greater than that afforded by the existing agTeement, which empowers J. L. and G. Scott to maintain the present prices for an indefinite time to come. The use of Coleridge power, the prospect of reducing charges in the future, and the prospect of securing for the ratepayers profits reasonably to be expected in the future from the natural expansion of the service with the progress of the town, depend on the municipality taking over what is now a private monopoly. Even if the buying out of J. L. and G- Scott on the terms now offered meant a loss for several years—and of that there is no prospect, in the opinion of the Finance Committee—tlie result of turning down the present offer and buying them out later, which the Council almost certainlv would have to do, would mean far greater loss. The Council's hands are tied by a very bad agreement!, and if the ratepayers do not take the chance of netting rid of the agreement now they will hardly have so good a chance again. That is an aspect of the matter which ormnnpnts of the purchase have not dealt with vet., and it is an important aspect.