§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether the Swan and Edison Electric Lighting Companies, which it is now proposed to amalgamate by a new Provisional Order and Act, have paid the sums which they were bound to pay within six months under the Acts of last year; whether the other Companies which obtained Orders for areas in the Metropolis have paid up; or, if not, whether the Orders are forfeited; and, what is done about the insolvent Brush Company, which sought to be allowed to offer its Orders for sale without having done anything whatever?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINSir, the Provisional Order to which the hon. Member refers does not propose to amalgamate the Edison and Swan Electric Lighting Companies. The amalgamation has already taken place, and the 1792 Order proposes to transfer to the amalgamated Company the Orders granted last year to the two Companies. These Orders provide that if the promoters fail to deposit certain sums of money to the satisfaction of the Board of Trade within six months (which period may be extended by the Board of Trade), the Orders may be revoked. After communicating with the local authorities, the Board of Trade have approved an extension of time to the 15th of October next in the case of the Orders of the two Companies, except as regards the South Kensington Order, where the local authority objected. As regards the Orders of the Metropolitan Brush Company, the Board of Trade have refused to grant any extension of time. The only other Orders affecting the Metropolis are the Hampstead Order of the Hampstead Electric Light Company, and the St. Giles's Order of the Pilsen Joel Company. In the former case, an extension of time has been approved with the concurrence of the local authority. The Board of Trade have taken no steps to revoke any of the Orders.