COUNCILLOR GRAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6240, 17 May 1888, Page 2

COUNCILLOR GRAY.

The motion of Councillor Gray will probably do great good. Agitation in the direction of the points entered into above haß, of course, been going on. In Wellington especially the matter has been taken np with warmth and spirit. There, last session, the malcontents scored a victory. They formulated five distinct points of grievance, and petitioned Parliament for their redress. Rent of meters, checks on the same, quality of gas, audit of accounts, and the injustice of the present great profits of the monopolist were the five. The petition came before a Parliamentary Committee. There is no space hereto tell exactly how the thing befell 3 suffice it to say that four of the five points, it was admitted by the local Gaß Company , were good and sound. That is to say that theprincipleswhichruleexistinglegislation on this subject were bad. The natural outcome of discovery like this is alteration in the statutes. In the hurryscurry of the 6esaion which' has passed away, that alteration was never made. This time the petitioners will return to tine charge. The case for immediate legislation is already well made o\it. When it is seen that a Municipal Council is so impressed with the necessity for a change as to contemplate the establishment of gasworks of its own, the case will be immensely strengthened.