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that might be conferred upon a Company by the Board of Trade,
and the draft Provisional Orders of the two Companies referred to
(the Metropolitan Brush and the Edison) were carefully examined.
The amendments which appeared most essential to the Vestry
were to require (1) that the whole parish (or district included in
the area of supply) should secure the right to a supply of Electricity,
and that the supply should not be restricted to the more important
thoroughfares; (2) that the consumers should share with the
Company any future reduction in the cost of producing and distributing
Electricity; (3) that the Company should be required
to exercise the powers conferred upon it; (4) that the Company
should not be permitted to give an intermittent supply as they
proposed; (5) that the Vestry should be allowed the option of
purchasing the undertaking after fourteen years from the confirmation
of the Order; and (6) that if the Vestry did not exercise this
option, the Order should not last longer than 21 years. The time
allowed for considering the subject was exceedingly short, the period
within which objections were to be made extending only from the
21st December to the 24th January (subsequently enlarged to the
1st February); and as the draft Orders were lengthy documents
treating of an entirely new matter, the Vestry and their Lighting
Committee devoted much thought and consideration to formulating
these principles in the limited time allowed.
Upon objections and suggestions being lodged by various local
authorities, the Board of Trade considered the views urged by the
Companies and the authorities, and framed a draft code of model
clauses for the use of applicants for Provisional Orders or licenses.
These clauses did not meet the views of the Vestry in every
particular, although in most respects they fairly protect the interests
of consumers and the local authorities. The Vestry suggested
certain amendments and additions to the draft model clauses, and
the question will require further consideration when the attitude
which the Board of Trade will assume with respect to the operation
of the Electric Lighting Act has been finally declared.
It is anticipated that the Metropolitan (Brush) and the Edison
Electric Light Companies will submit amended draft Orders based