TE AWAMUAU TOWN BOARD.

Waipa Post, Volume II, Issue 77, 16 January 1912, Page 3

TE AWAMUAU TOWN BOARD.

PUBLIC MEETING TO CONSIDER GAS PROPOSALS.

A GASSY MEETING

Our interest in municipal affairs was clearly demonstrated last night, when the ratepayers were called together to consider lighting proposals. At 8 p.m. there were but seven ratepayers present; at 8.15 a start was made there then being about twenty present. Within half-an-hour, however, the attendance increased to about 100 residents. It was not until nearing 10 p.m. that any business was done this was entirely due to the lack of information and no definite scheme to lay before the meeting. Whether we intend to proceed with a lighting proposal is not clearly understood, but it is quite evident that Te Awamutu is notprepared to " give away " its lighting rights. Mr C. Bowden, chairman-of the Town Board, presided. He was sorry to see such a small attendance, as the proposal was an important one, and the meeting would have to express an opinion of the advisability of establishing a gas plant at Te Awamutu. There is gas in the town already, but it was neither coal gas or electricity. The Board asked for free discussion, and its actions would be guided by the opinions expressed. The offer had been made to instal a plant, and it rested with the meeting to say whether it would accept the offer.

Mr T. W. Butcher, as representing Mr Blackmail, from whom the proposal had been received, explained the advantages of coal gas over all other lightingsystems. In small boroughs there are other considerations besides brilliancy of light. Commercial value must be considered. Coal gas was a sound businesslike undertaking. In the house it is indispensable, and its heating qualities are well known and fully availed of in those boroughs where coal gas is available. All were looking forward to the improvement of the streets, the asphalting of the footpaths and the remedying of the dust nuisance. A gas works in the town would assist in this matter, as tar would be procurable at the cheapest rate. Mr Blackman was an expert on the installation of coal gas works, and could be safely entrusted with the installation of any such plant. There was no better system of lighting than by coal gas. He defiecl-any-body to point out a small borough where any other system pays as reasonable interest as coal gas. Dr. Reekie: I -will answer Mr Butcher's challenge, and read from the report of the electrical works committee at Dunedin, which report concluded by saying that the earnings of those works would eventually make Dunedin a ratclcss city.

Mr Butcher: My remarks dealt with small boroughs. Dr. Reekie : We have not yet been given any information as to the cost of this proposal. What will we have to pay for gas. It is impossible to consider the proposal without further details are supplied. J. B. Tcasdale: Is there not a report to submit to this meeting ? The draft proposal was read. Dr. Reekie : I notice that the price per 1000 feet is lOs. What is the other price ? Mr Butcher: The standard price is I2s 6d per 1000 feet, but the concession is always made.

Chairman : If accounts are not paid within a prescribed time, the price is I2s Gd. Dr. Reekie : That is not right. Tradespeople cannot sell a thing for 6d and then charge o,d for it. Further, why is it that it will pay the company to supply the local body at 7s 6d per 1000 while ratepayers have to pay ios or possibly 12s 6d ? Mr Butcher; That is a concession always made to the local body. We are quite willing to charge the Board the full rate.

Dr. Reekie: When 'you are dealing with the local body you are dealing with the people. I presume every consumer must purchase his own fittings. — Yes. And will your company be the sole supplier of fittings.—No. Continuing, tffe* doctor considered that we were not only considering the granting of a monopoly over our lighting rights but also for the supply of fittings. G. Spinley: Is the same rate per 1000 cubic feet to be charged for five, ip, or IS years.

Mr Butcher: No; the price will be reduced according to the number of consumers.

Mr Spinley: Will the Town Board be able to prevent the company from earning over'2o per cent profit?—No; but they have the right to take over the works.

As you have a monopoly of the roads, will the Town Board receive a proportion of the gas charges ? J. B. Teasdalc: Our main road is controlled by the Waipa County Council, audit would.be first of all necessary to take over thc main road.—No, that is quite unnecessary.

I feel sure it will be necessary, and the levels will also have to be defined. Mr D. Christian: Has the Town Board formulated any policy ?—No. Dr Reekie : I am waiting for Mr Butcher state his case. He represents the company who made a bid to get a monopoly in this town by the proposed

agreement. For 10 or 15 years they may charge their own prices. At the end of that term the town has the privilege of buying the plant and monopoly. Is "that right ? If the firm consider it a good investment why should the town not own the monopoly right away, (applause). The meeting had to consider the question of municipal control from the first or the giving away of a dangerous monopoly. it would be advisable to get reports on other schemes before definite action was taken. He di.l not favour giving away the lighting rights. ! Mr Butcher: I do not know 1 what other in formation is wanted. Mr Blackman has made a proposal, and it amounted to his being willing to instal a plant if the town is not prepared to raise the necessary money. The town has to face a very heavy expenditure for sewerage and water systems. Mr Tcasdale : It is only a few j years and we will have the whole j district lit by electricity from Mora Mora,--not for many years, j

Mr Butcher. I agree with all that has been said, and am firmly of opinion that every borough should own its own gas works, but if you are not prepared to undertake the works right away Mr Blackmail's company is prepared to instal the plant.

Mr G. Gifford : How longwin the plant last .'—That depends largely on the growth of the town, Under ordinary conditions for 10 or 15 years. Mr Fear : What is the company prepared to accept for the plant tit the end o! Inc term > The price will be fixed according to valuation. —is there to be anytning paid for goodwill ? That is specified in the agreement. —But what is specified ? It is not for me to read the agreement. If the proposal is accepted the Board will see that the agreement is in order.

Dr .Reekie : Mr Fear wants to know our position. So far we have been given no particulars. Mr Blackburn asks for a monopoly, and fullest details should be given, so that we may know what we arc dealing with. —When an architect or engineer is called in to give information he is paid, therefore it is hot reasonable that.l should give the information without being paid.

Dr Reekie: The position is different: If an architect approaches me he must explain his proposal-;- if J ask him to report then I expect to pay him. -We did. not ask this company to come. Mr Butcher is not here at our request. He is here to get a monopoly, and refuse? to give any details. Who was it submitted the proposal ? The chairman : Mr Blackburn Mr W. F. Stewart: This meeting was called by the Town Board, and should address the Board —not any individual. The Town Board should submit, the information-—not any agent. But it seems that the Board can give us no information. The chairman : This meeting was called by the Town Board to give the ratepayers an opportunity of considering lighting proposals and to decide whether the concession should be given to the company. He, personally, favoured the proposal.

Mr G. H. White : Before voicing my opinion I would like to ask if shares in this company will be offered to residents at the original value.—That is a favourable proposition, and will be considered. The question of shares had nothing to do with the Board, but the company would be quite prepared to issue shares locally. Mr White: I favour the proposal. If this concession is not granted, and the matter is left to the people, le Awamutu will have no gas works for 15 years. Mr Christian: How are we to get the shares?—The Board grants the concession. The company is then floated among the local people. The directors and office of the company will be here.

Dr Reekie : We have heard enough of Mr Butcher. Let the Town Board tell us something. 1 will say what has taken place in the Board. The chairman: The letter has alreadv been read. Mr f easdale : We should hear Dr Reekie. The chairman : Mr Teasdale, I rule you out of order. Dr Reekie : Do you rule me out of order ?—I do.

Mr Gilbert: What will be the cost of the works?-Chairman: For that information we must employ an engineer. If left in the hands of the Board it will be 15 vcars before we get any lighting.

Mr Gilbert: Then we ratepayers must " shake up " the Board, and if'they won't do something we must put in a Board that will.

Mrßattson it is well known that a borough cannot compete against a company in gas matters This is due to the negligence of the managers.

Dr. Reekie : I wish to cast no reflection on the Board but I must say that this matter has not been properly considered. I move that a oommittee be appointed to obtain the fullest information on lighting schemes and come before the ratepayers at a later date with a comprehensive report. There can be no question but tha.l a lighting system is required ' J. B. Teasdale : I do not altogether agree with Dr. Reekie.

It is the Town Board that should obtain expert advice and report to the ratepayers. I will, however, second the proposal. I do not favour giving away the monopoly but consider an electric lighting scheme better in the interests of Te Awamutu. The town must grow and the question of a tramway to Kihikihi will have to be considered.

J. A. Young, M.P.: I am here as a ratepayer of the town and come to offer any information. Te Awamutu residents had to see that proper protection was provided for the community. The meeting had been called without any definite information to submit to the ratepayers having been obtained. There were two questions to be considered. Docs the town require a scheme of lighting and what form of lighting shall be adopted. To-night nothinghas been submitted except the roc 1 uest of Mr Blackman. He instanced Hamilton, where 16 years ago the lighting rights were given away. After much litigation it had cost Hamilton £17,000 to buy back thosj rights.

It had been said that if lightingproposals were left to the Board it would take 15 years before the work would be done. This was a libel on the people. With the brains and enterprise of the local body this or any other work should be carried out to advantage, and the people had the right to demand the protection of the Board instead of the company exploiting the community. The people should have the best value for the service. In Auckland the gas company's profits arc limited to 20 per cent., in Hamiltrm 15 per cert. To bcal bodies the value of money is 5 per cent., so that every penny over that percentage goes back to the town. The proposal to go more fully into the various systems was a good one, as the meeting was proceeding on very unsafe lines in committing itself without obtaining more information. The interests of the whole community was of paramount importance, and- that should be the first duty of the committee. (Applause). J. L. Mandeno : This is a matter of considerable importance, and I move that the Town Board and Chamber of Commerce hold a conference to deal with the proposal. Mr W.J. Phillips seconded this amendment.

J. B. Teasdale : It is the Town Board's duty, and has nothing to do with the Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Reekie: The amendment only hinders the proposal. The committee is not to decide anything, but simply collect data and report to the ratepayers.

The amendment was lost on the voices.

Mr Teasdale : It is the duty of the Board, and I would ask to be permitted to withdraw from seconding the proposal. Mr Battson ; I move that the lighting proposals be referred back to the Town Board to obtain further information.

Mr Spinley ; lam opposed to any proposal to sell the lighting rights. I second Mr Battson's proposal. Mr Wood; There should be no restrictions placed on the Board —every system of lighting should be considered.

The proposal was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously, and the matter goes back to the Board to unearth all possible information and report to the rateplayers in clue course.

Before the meeting closed a discussion took place as to whether it was worth the Board's time to get this information. A resolution that " this meeting is of opinion that a lighting scheme should be provided at Te Awamutu " was carried.

The meeting closed with the usual vote to the chair.