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205
were thoroughly investigated. The enquiry took eighteen
days, and Major Marindin after considering the evidence and
the suggestions of the London County Council, made on the
9th May, 1889, a most lucid and exhaustive report on the
subject, it is of so much importance that we have sent a
copy of it for the Committees perusal. The Report will
give the Committee some notion of the extent which the Act
of 1888 had encouraged enterprise and substantial undertakings.
It will be seen on reference to this report that two
important questions of principle were involved.
1. What should be the extent and nature of the area
granted to each company.
2. Should or not concurrent power be granted to 2
or more companies within the same area or parish.
The conclusions that Major Marindin arrived at were as
follows:—
" 1st. That it must be admitted that the science of
Electric Lighting has now reached the point at which
a supply can be made which will be of very great
benefit to the public and that the power of obtaining
this supply should be within the reach of all persons
who may require it. For this reason it seems to me,
that although the wishes and opinions of the local
authorities in the areas proposed to be supplied
should be consulted and deferred to as far as possible,
the mere objection by a local authority to the introduction
of a Company proposing to supply electric
light upon general grounds should not be considered
sufficient to exclude such Company unless the local
authority should express its intention to undertake