To the Editor of the "Norru-Owina Dairy News."
S1n,—Wow that the days are shorter and the nights correspondingly longer, it would appear that those responsible for the supply of electric current have set themselves to show the public just how unreliable the service can be; at least, so far as the district in which I reside viz:—that much despised "Eastern District."
Between two or three weeks ago the light failed entirely for about 45 minutes, and it was very "shaky" for some time after its renewal.
On Sunday the 12th instant there was no current for over four hours from what my servants tell me, but I cannot vouch for this as I was dining out, though I coo no reason to doubt their word for Last night (Monday) I reached home at 4.40 p.m. and there was no current until 9.15 p.m. or say four and a half hours which is a little bit thick—two nights in sue-cession.
Those in charge may have some excuse to give for the wretched state of affairs which appears te exist at the Power Station, but judging from the statements in your paper as to the amount of current supplied to the French Concession, it would almost that the ratepayers of the International Settlement, who are responsible for the loans contracted to finance the Electric Light Department of the Council, are being restricted in their supply of current to keep up a more steady supply to the aforesaid Concession, as the residents in that Concession do not seem to have suffered to anything like the same extent as those residing in the International Settlement.
If the plant at the power Station is insufficient for the work it is called upon to perform, I think that the ratepayers of the International Settlement should have the first call on the product: of the enterprise for which they are financially responsible.
I am, eto., J. Ambrose.
Shanghai, Dec. 14.
To the Editor of the "Norra-Curxa Dary News."
Sin,—I beg to add ly little quota of protest to that of Mr. Ambrose. Anything seems to be good enough for Hongkew in the estimation of the powers that be.
Things have come to such a head that we must be forced to the conclusion that there are a few very incompetent cogs in the august Council machinery.
"Municipal Salaries Commission" is right enough. But
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.