- (1) A district electricity board and any local authority authorised by special Act or by Order to supply electricity may provide, let for hire, and in respect there of may connect, repair, maintain and remove (but shall not, unless expressly authorised to do so by the special Act, manufacture or sell) electric lines, fittings, apparatus and appliances for lighting, heating and motive power and for all other purposes for which electricity can, or may be used, and with respect thereto may demand and take such remuneration or rents and charges, and make such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon.
- (2) Any electric lines, fittings, apparatus, and appliances provided by or on behalf of any authorised distributors on consumers premise either before or after the passing of this Act, and any lauds, buildings, or works held by them in connection therewith shall be deemed to form part of the undertaking authorised by the Acts or Provisional Orders relating to such authorised distributors.
Mr. THOMSONI beg to move, in Subsection (1), to leave out the word "provide" ["may provide"], and to insert instead thereof the word "sell."
This Clause authorises district boards to provide apparatus and fittings necessary for the sale of their electric power arid electric light, but as it stands at present it is somewhat incomplete, and possibly somewhat illogical, because, although it provides that they shall "provide," it expressly excludes the power to sell. They may let for hire but they may not sell. One of the objects of the Bill is to encourage the sale and use of electric light and power throughout the country, and when local authorities have established salerooms where they could demonstrate to their customers the uses and advantages of the various apparatus such as electric fires, or lighting, cooking apparatus, electric baths, or machinery worked by electricity for various purposes, it seems very absurd that they have to say to their customers, "We can supply you with the power for this apparatus; we can let the apparatus for hire, but we may not sell." That seems a most extraordinary distinction to draw. In Committee the argument was used that it was undesirable to inter- 1731 fere with the private trader. But if you are allowed to interfere with the private trader in so far that you may hire out this apparatus, it is rather splitting hairs to make a distinction and say that you may not sell. It was urged upstairs that it would not be safe to give power to local authorities, because of the fear that it might become a burden on the rates through unfair competition with the private trader. Such objection cannot apply in this case, because these district electricity boards have no call upon the rates whatever; they are self-supporting. They are like an ordinary trading community. Therefore the bogey of drawing from the rates has gone. If we really desire to develop electric power and electric light we must give every facility for its extension. If customers go to a particular place and find they are unable to purchase the apparatus necessary for the use of electricity, you are injuring and not helping the use of electricity. This Amendment is in favour of free trade in electrical development, as opposed to the protection which is sought to be set up in the interest of the private trader. I hope the bogey of the private trader will not be allowed to stand in the way of this popular development.
§ Mr. KILEYI beg to second the Amendment, in order to give the Home Secretary an opportunity of explaining on what grounds he is taking away from the Metropolitan borough of Stepney a power which they already possess. They have an electric power station and electric supply installation, and they have the right, which they are at present exercising, of supplying any of the inhabitants with any motors or electric appliances which they need. This has been in force for many years, and it has answered successfully. There is no question of any loss on the rates, because most of these articles are sold at a fixed tariff, and there is no competition in the sense of underselling. I see no reason for that power being taken away because of some private arrangement or some deal that has been made with some private companies. It is not the desire of the electric suppliers of the borough of Stepney to put out the private trader—they are on perfectly friendly terms, and there is no ground for the undue interference which is proposed in this Bill.
§ Mr. SHORTTI am very glad to be able to relieve the mind of my hon. Friend (Mr. 1732 Kiley), and I am sure he will support me when I have explained the matter. Nothing in this Bill will interfere with the rights of the borough of Stepney. They can go on doing exactly what they have been doing in the past, so long as they have power to do it. I gather that they are authorised by their Acts to do it, and nothing in this Clause will interfere with that. Therefore, the hon. a. Member can be as happy as he likes. With regard to the other suggestion, I would remind the House that we are setting up quite new and very considerable public bodies, the district board or joint authority. They will have very considerable new powers, of a very far-reaching character, and it is rather too much to ask this House, who are not all fanatical for municipal trading, to give these new local bodies the right to come into competition with men whose business it is to make electrical appliances. I am not concerned with the argument as to whether the local authorities should or should not trade, but I ask my hon. Friend to recollect that in a great Bill of this kind, brought in at a period like this, there must be a little give-and-take. No doubt many people are stretching their views in order to meet the setting up of these great central bodies, and of this control. Therefore, we might meet them to the extent of not allowing the private traders to be interfered with in this respect.
§ Amendment negatived.
§ The following Amendment stood on the Paper in the name of Mr. KILEY:
§ In Sub-section (1), after the word "hire" ["let for hire"], insert the words "or hire-purchase for a period of not less than one year."
§ Mr. KILEYIn view of what the Home Secretary has said, that this Clause will not interfere with what the Metropolitan borough of Stepney are doing I do not propose to move the Amendment which stands in my name.
§ Amendment made: In Sub-section (2), leave out the words "Acts or Provisional Orders," and insert instead thereof the words "special Act or Order."—[Mr. Shortt.]