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38
R.E., the Inspector of the Board of Trade for electricity, in the Town
Hall, Westminster, and was opened on Wednesday, April 3rd, and concluded
on Wednesday, May 1st, the sittings occupying 18 days.
The questions and interests involved thereat were so complicated and
important, and the inquiry was of such an exhaustive nature, that the
decisions and conclusions arrived at may be regarded as forming the
basis of all future legislation with regard to electric lighting.
The various systems of supply, the relative advantages of the
continuous and alternating current, questions arising between high and
low tension, the advantages of districting, the provision of generating
stations, and various other matters of scientific detail, were all very
fully dealt with. The principal conclusions arrived at by Major Marindin
are here quoted from his report:—
Objection
of Local
Authority,
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 the supply, and give evidence that
it proposes to apply for permission to do so; and this should apply with more force
when it can be shown that the exclusion of a Company from such an area would
injuriously affect the service of other contiguous areas.
Form of
Order.
In dealing with this question it should be considered as one affecting the
interests of the Metropolis as a whole, and as an area which, at no very distant time,
may be for purposes of lighting and management of roads and streets under the control
of one central authority ; and therefore, the whole of the Provisional Orders
granted for the Metropolitan area should, as far as possible, be identical in form, with
identical provisions as to supply, compulsory powers, interference with streets, and more
than all, as to price. I consider, however, that in order to insure that some work
sliall be at once undertaken in every parish or district within the area of supply under
such Order, there should be a list of streets scheduled for compulsory laying of
mains, and a deposit made in every case where the local authorities may wish to
have it. "Where there are two Companies in the same area different streets should
be scheduled for each.
Price.
With regard to price, I do not consider that any one district in the Metropolis
should be put in a better position than another. Taking the area as a whole, it does
not appear that it would be wise to fix a lower maximum than 8d. per unit.