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57
was against the Local Authorities spending money
in placing a case before the Parliamentary Committee,
the Joint Committee appointed by the Conference
went by deputation to the County Council,
and urged them to exercise the right they possessed,
and appear before the Committee of Inquiry of
the House of Commons on behalf of the Local
Authorities.
The Council agreed to oppose the Gas Light and
Coke Co.'s Bill for the consolidation of their stock
with the result that the Bill was thrown out by the
House of Lords Committee.
The Council also adopted the following recommendations:—
(1) That whenever any of the Metropolitan Gas Companies
again come to Parliament for an extension or alteration
of their capital powers a revision of the sliding scale
should take place, and that the standard price should be
reduced to 3s, 3d. to carry the standard dividend of 10
per cent., and that the existing scale of increase and decrease
for dividend of ¼ per cent. for every penny of
decrease or increase of price below or above 3s. 3d. be
maintained, and that a secondary or additional scale be
imposed which should permit of an increase or decrease
of dividend over and above that regulated by the present
scale of ¼ per cent. for every complete 3d. of decrease or
increase below or above the standard price of 3s. 3d.
(2) That the area south of the River Thames at present part
of the district of the Gas Light and Coke Company, acquired
by them from the absorption of the London Gas
Company in 1883, should be transferred from the Gas
Light and Coke Company to the South Metropolitan Gas
Company, fair and reasonable price being paid by the
latter to the former Company for their property in the
southern area.
(3) That the charge made by the Gas Light and Coke
pany for the rents of automatic meters and stoves should