The Express.
London, England, 1859-12-10 00:00:00

(Stamped Id. Additional.) LT WOPENCE.

THE METROPOLITAN OAS QUESTION.

Yesterday a deputation from the Metropolane
gas companies waited upon the Preeident of the Board of
Trade and the Home Secretary, to give explanations in reply
to the statements of the committee of delegates, and to put
the government in possession of the grounds upon which
they resisted the dementia of the consumers. A list of the
companies represented will be found under our court intelli-
gence. Alderman Salomon' M.P Mr. F. Atwell, M.P.,
sad Mr. IL Butler, M.P., attended the deputation by in-
vitation.
Mr. Bulks, of the Imperial Gas Light Company, stated
the case to the Presioent of the Board of Trade, expressing
on the part of the companies a desire simply to place the
government in possession of the facts of the was, and then to
leave it in their bands to deal with it as they might think
fit. The object of the delegates was, as far as he could infer
to induce the government to take up the bill of which the;
had given notice, in order that they might relieve them-
selves from the expellee of conducting it, and if legislation
was to take place, tare he represented would consider the
matter better in the hands of the government than
in the hands of those gentlemen who were pro-
moting the bill. It was net only inconvenient, but fraught
with e neiderable danger that conanners should themselves
originate a bill to alter acts of parliament on the faith of
which indviduals had embarked their capital. Gas can-
page when they possessed • monopoly had held it with the
concurrence of the vestries, and it was ea advantage to the
cieneuntsr, because it enabled the company to supply the gas
at • Arm de than they would to able to do, if to the
seams of competition. Whereasepittlion as the cam-
*tat al extravagant charge was jut; titivate it did not
ethe pries wee as low sett possibly could be, and if the
emmeasele imessided is matting oecapethienthe malt would
he that pr companies would bays to Morass their aloe.
liarest
stir had talked about the excessive exactions of the
monopoly of gas companies, but he would main.
tan that every public lamp wee paid for at too low • rate.
With regard to the illuminating power,the Postatice had
mirrored malefaction with the supply, Ind be did not hear
say complainte from other quarters. The bill prepared by
the giessies was of each a nature that the oompames could
ant Newt to It, hut if the government thought legislation
nommenry they had every confidencethat they would be
freaked with Jaffa and fatness.
Mr. SAYIIACX, Chairman of the Ratcliff Company, said
that company had charged only 4e. 6d. for their gas, though
they had the monopoly of the supply, sad were entitled by
Mao! parliament to charge sa.
Mr. Milan& Gunton said he bad listened with attention
le the 'Mamma of Mr. Burke, but it was nearer, to digest
the tsetse, so much had been aid on both sides, before a
de/den yes owes te. It should receive the fullest conside-
ration, and so decision would be come to without due atom-
tits being given to the interests of both pieties.
• The deputation, baring thanked the right hen. gentleman,
pomaded to the Home-office, where they were received by
Ohs Rightilon. Sir George Cornwall Lewis.
• Mr. Buena having recapitulated the pieta of his previous
Wiese,Sir G. Lewis asked whether the companies disputed the
alleged mnalegy between this aims and that of the water sup-
ply, which was regulated by the government.
Mr. lit eta denied that there was any analogy between
the two mess. The water question was a sanitary question
which the government took in hand in consequence of publics
complaints rearming the supply, end there was oleo this
difference, that when competition between the water compa-
nies aseed the price of the supply was raised.
Sr G. Lewis asked whether the companies objected to the
principle that there should be a fixed maximum charge, and
whether it wee denied that the quality of their gas was bed
Mr. Buena said the vestries were seekiag not only
to limit the charge bat to increase the illuminating
sw.er. Ss dated that the prated price was too
hor the quali bad, and remarked that the
games of whichty the vestries complained bedif really
existed they had an portunity of stating their case last
session, whets the City (isa Bill was before the house. The
illuminating power was fixed by act of parliament in 1854,
and the companies contended teat they had supplied op to
that standard. With regsed to the ciasatkin of monopoly, the
company he represatad sad several others had always enjoyed
a monopoly, bat they were all subject to the Gas Con-
solidation Act, and the limitation of the dividend to 10 per
cent. afforded sufficient protection for the consumer. The
leverage dividends did not exceed 5 per cat, and no one
aswpay niched the maximum. Companies were ant este-
bibbed for the purpose of oompaitien ; • districting " was
by Sir Robert Pea, end the acts of the Char-
=.67
It W, id" , end Ratcliffe Companies were granted oe the
ealessesaMes that there should be no interfereta with the
distriele "taped by other cocoa/dee, so that pi/lament had
Variell tie principle of di.tricting.
Llllllll sild—Perhspe if there wets a postal rule
of t, It was that they did not Interfere in local
n—that they abstained always from using their Ja-
lousies one way or another; and even when private bills
discussed in the house, which was not very often the
it was generally with reluctance and • good deal
of reserve that they took part in the discussion. No doubt
there was something peculiar in the state of the metropolis,
arising from the menace of the necessary funds and other
canna, which Feasted them from stating their case fairly
before committees; hit he thought that what bad been
stated showed that If there was to he any litigious action, the
only course would be to appoint another select committee of
Inquiry, or the parties could be heard before • private bill
committee. The question had not arrived at each • stage as
would justify government in interfering in en authoritative
meaner by seeking to influence one side or the other ; but if
it should appear that any intermediate arrangement could be
come to, he should have noobjeciien to ask the opposite party
—those who represented the coneureere—whether they would
be willing to make any proposal to the companies, which
would be something lees than they °attended for in their
bills; and if such proposal were placed in the bands of
the government for their oensideration, they would have no
objection to communicate It to the computes for their
opinion upon it. He threw out this suggestion. If it were
a course which they thought might by pue-ibility lead to any
result, he should here no objection to communicate again
with the gentlemen who waited upon hint last week. But it
they were disposed to steed qp in their rights, and enter upon
a war of select committee, he had nothing to do but to Ist
matters take their eour,..
Mr. Buena thanked the right boo. gentleman for his
suggestion, which be intimated would be accepted by the
companies.
The deputation thou withdrew.