ACTION OF MR PERCEVAL IN WELLINGTON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6316, 14 August 1888, Page 3

ACTION OF MR PERCEVAL IN WELLINGTON.

£fb*3m ottb sfsccax cobbespondent.] WELLINGTON, August 13. Sefecringto'the meeting of the citizens of " Chxisfesh.ureh.^held^_ Sst.. Wednesday

evening, when it was resolved to endorse the recommendation of the City Council to construct gasworks for the city of Christchurch, Mr Perceval yesterday received a letter from the Town Clerk urging him to endeavour to obtain the necessary power during the present session to enable the wishes of the citizens to be given effect to. Mr Perceval informs me that there are great difficulties in the way. The position seema to be as follows: — The Municipal Corporations Act of 1886, which is the Act authorising Borough Councils to establish gasworks, provides that where gasworks are already established for the supply of gas in any Borough under Act of Parliament, it shall not be lawful for the Council to establish any other gasworks to supply the same locality, except under the authority of a special Act. At the request of the City Council, Mr Perceval had framed a clause amending the Act bo f ar as Chriatchurch was concerned, which he intended to endeavour to have inserted in the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill now before the House. As the Government has decided not to persevere with this measure, this opportunity is gone. The only remaining courses which can be adopted are to introduce a general or local Bill dealing with the question. A local Bill would best meet the case, were it not that the session is bo near its end. It is not expected that the session will last more than from ten days to a fortnight, and as the object of a local Bill has, by the Standing Orderß, to be advertised once in each of three successive weeks, thiß course does not seem feasible. Mr Perceval then fell back upon the Government, urging them to introduce the necessary measure as a Government Bill. He pointed out that the lateness of the session prevents his introducing either a local or a private Bill, and he has directed the attention of the Government to the almost unanimous desire of the Christchurch people to have an Act passed before the session closes, and to the fact of the Christchurch meeting having, only been held last Thursday preventing the possibility of action being taken before last week. Mr Perceval was promised that the Cabinet would take the subject into their consideration at their next meeting. To-day Mr Perceval was put out of his pain by getting a definite refusal from the Government to do anything this session. The excuse given, 1 believe, is that it would bo thought unfair of the Government to introduce any new Bill of a local kind at this stage of the session, after they have been compelled to drop so niany of their local Bills. I am credibly informed that the shareholders of the Gas Company are. already exerting their influence to prevent any necessary legislation being passed. The shareholders, however, need not distress themselves ; their interests are perfectly safe in the hands of the Government as at present constituted. Mr Perceval has lost no time in taking his passage to-day for Chriatchurch, in order to talk the matter over with the Councillors without further delay.