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VALLEY PETTY SESSIONS i

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CARNARVON AND THE ELECTRIC…

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CARNARVON AND THE ELECTRIC LIGHT PROPOSED PARLIAMENTARY BILL. INTERESTING DISCUSSION IN THE COUNCIL. THE MAYOR'S RULING. j At the adjourned meeting of the Carnarvon Town Council, on (Friday night, the Mayor I (Mr W. A. Darbishire) presiding, reports were presented wÚh reference to the electric light, and tiu question of promoting a private bill. What is called the Sudbury Judgment in the High Couirt has for some tinio caused the Coun- cil uneasiness as to 'the legality of their agree- ments with the National Construction Com- pany in connection with the town's electric liapply scheme, and for several months there has b-eóll under consideration the question of pro- moting a Parliamentary Bill with the view of remedying the defect, and enabling the Coun- cil to have further borrowing power. In Sep- tember 'the members of the Electricity Com- mittee of tlueo Corporation liad an inter- view at Carnarvon with Mr David Lloyd George, the President of the Board of Trade, when the position of the Cor- poration under their electric lighting agree- ment was discussed. Air Lloyd-George in- formed fchem that they might depend upon the Board of Trade doing everything within their power to help them, and he requested them to send him a statement of the position of affairs together with a copy of Mr MacMorran's opin- ion on the agreement. He would then see the | President of the {Local Government 'Board, or Mr Runciman, and endeavour to overcome their objection to the sanctioning of the further loana required. If he could save the town the ex- ipense of a. private Bin, he would do so. After Mr Lloyd-George's return to London a letter was sent to him reminding him that the matter was becoming urgent, and he replied saying that he had been unable to see the President I of the Local Government Board owing to ab- I sence, but would attend to the matter on hia return. In view of the fact that the advertise- mente of the private Bill must appear at the I latest on the following November, it was re- solved that a deputation should see Mr Lloyd- George in London and endeavour to obtain a settlement, and, should it be necessary to pro- ceed with a private Billj the Town Clerk was authorised to engage a Parliamentary agent and proceed, as far as possible with the busi- ness. At a subsequent meeting of the committee the Town Clerk reported that he had not been able to make an appointment with the President of the !Board of Trade, consequently the de- putation had not proceeded to (London. The Accountant, however, reported that he 'had called at the offices of the IBoard of Trade to inquire what was being done. He was informed by Air Lloyd-George's private secretary that Mr Lloyd-George thought the 'best course for the Council to pursue would be to proceed with the promotion of a private Bill on the lineG of the draft Bill which they had already sub- mitted to him. In the meantime the question was being carefully" considered 'by the Board of Trade in conjunction with their legal ad- visers, and should it be possible by any action of the Board to relieve the Council of the neces- sity of proceeding further with the Bi'l, the Council would be informed of the fact without delay. Should it be necessary for the Bill to be carried) through Parliament, iMr Lloyd- George would do all in his power to facilitate its progress. The secretary further stated that at Mr Lloyd-George's request he had that morning been across to the offices of the Local Government Board to inquire whether it was passible to obtain the sanction to borrow suffi- cient for their present requirements. The Board informed him that it was not within their power to give the sanction applied for, and under those circumstances he advised the Council to dismiss from their minds all hope of obtaining the sanction until the difficulty had been settled. The Accountant further reported that he had called at the offices of the Local Government Board with a. view to obtaining their apprvaJ to the draft (Bill. The Board was not prepared to give a formal approval, although they did "hot see that there was any- thing in the proposals to which they could ob- ject. In order to facilitate matters, they re- quested to be supplied with a full statement and the reasons for promoting the Bill, together with a copy of the correspondence showing toe attitude of the Board of Trade on the qnes- tion. The committee resolved that all three I agreements, viz., the working agreement, the construction agreement, and the free wiring agreement, be scheduled in the bill, and that the Town Clerk and Accountant draw out the tixlvert.isem>onte, taking the advice of the Par- Jiamentary agent if necessary. Councillor W. G. Thomas (chairman of the Elpdricity Committee) proposed that the re- port of ths committee be adopted. Councillor Carter When is the last day for civing notice of the intended bill ? In one part I of tlho report the 27th November is given and in another part the 16th as the last day. It I would be of great assistance at the present moment' if I knew which date is the correct OflV* Councillor J. T. Roberts: That will arise when item 24 on the agenda is discussed, namely, Councillor W. G. Thomas's proposal to promote a private bill. Councillor darter: We are now discussing t'ho minutes, and I was going to move that we do not pass them to-night; butt that the matter be discussed thoroughly at a later date. I should like to have more information. THE MAYOR'S RULING. The Mayor This is the committee's record, and if we find that it is correct —— Councillor Carter: We. are not obliged to adopt it. The Mayor: Allow me to finish. The sub- ject matter of the minutes will later, This is merely a record of what has been done. If it is incorrect we cannot pass it. Councillor Carter: I thought now was the Councillor Carter: I thought now was the best time to ask a question. The Mayor We are only discussing the con- firmation or not of the minutes. Councillor Carter said that he always under- stood that when they were adopting the minutes of a committee they were confirming what had been done. 'He, therefore, thought that that was the proper time, before the minutes were adopted, to discuss each item seriatim. The Mayor: We lare discussing the con- j firmation of the minutes as a correct record of what passed. Councillor Carter I move that the minutes be pasaed when we take itx'-m 24 on the agenda. I ,a.m not questioning your ruling, but am ask- ing whether we shall not b& in order in taking the minutes when we discuss item 24. The Mayor I think not. The question is —are these minutes correct or not? Ultimately the minutes were adopted. PROPOSED PRIVATE BILL. 1 At a later stage of the proceedings Council- lor W. G. Thomas proposed :—"That a bill be promoted by the Council of the "Borough of Carnarvon in the next session of Parliament to authorise land confirm certain agreements dated respectively June 18th, 1903, July 22nd, 1904, and October 7th, 1904, and made be- tween the Mayor, .Almrmen and Burgesses of the Borough of Carnarvon of the one part, and the National Electric Construction Company, Limited, of the other part, and to mlake provi- sion for too defraying "the expense which has been incurred', and whidh from time to time may be incurred under the said agreements, and to'enable the said Council to 'borrow for tho purposes of the said agreements and for the purpose of paying' the costs and expenses of the Bill on such security with such consent and subject to such provisions and restrictions with respect to the borrowing and repayment of loans as are contained in the schedule to the Electric Lighting Act, 1832. And that the Town Clerk do take all necessary and proper steps and proceedings in regard to the promo- tion of Vibe- Blill. Councillor Tlhonias said that the Council 'had already decided—first of all in a committee of the whole Council, anl af :-erv.-nrd's it was confirmed at a special Council meeting—that they proceed by promoting a private bill in the next: session of Parliament. As the result of the .Sudbury Judgment in the High Court the Board of Trade and the Local Government Board had said that they oould not see their way clear to sanction additional, loans for the extension of the mains in connec- tion wfth the electric light undertaking in <

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ILLNESS AND DESPAIR

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CARNARVON AND THE ELECTRIC…

CARNARVON AND THE ELECTRIC…