3/0 THE ADDRESSES, LECTURES, ETC,, OF 



of the new illuminant. In 1879, a Select Committee of the House 

 of Commons instituted a careful inquiry into its nature and pro- 

 bable cost, with a view to legislation, and the conclusions at which 

 they arrived were, I consider, the best that could have been laid 

 down. They advised that applications should be encouraged ten- 

 tatively by the granting of permissive bills, 'and this policy has 

 given rise to the Electric Lighting Bill, 1882, promoted by Mr. 

 Chamberlain, the President of the Board of Trade, regarding 

 which much controversy has arisen. It could, indeed, hardly be 

 expected that any act of legislation upon this subject could give 

 universal satisfaction, because, while there are many believers in 

 gas who would gladly oppose any measure likely to favour the 

 progress of the rival illuminant, and others who wish to see it 

 monopolised, either by local authorities, or by large financial cor- 

 porations, there are others again who would throw the doors open 

 so wide as to enable almost all comers to interfere with the public 

 thoroughfares, for the establishment of conducting wires, without 

 public let or hindrance. 



The law as now established takes, I consider, a medium course 

 between these diverging opinions, and, if properly interpreted, will 

 protect, I believe, all legitimate interests, without impeding the 

 healthy growth of establishments for the distribution of electric 

 energy for lighting and for the transmission of power. Any firm 

 or lighting company may, by application to the local authorities, 

 obtain leave to place electric conductors below public thorough- 

 fares, subject to such conditions as may be mutually agreed upon, 

 the term of such license being limited to seven years ; or an 

 application may be made to the Board of Trade for .a provisional 

 order to the same effect, which, when sanctioned by Parliament, 

 secures a right of occupation for twenty-one years. The license 

 offers the advantage of cheapness, and may be regarded as a 

 purely tentative measure, to enable the firm or company to prove 

 the value of their plant. If this is fairly established, the license 

 would in all probability be affirmed, either by an engagement for 

 its prolongation from time to time, or by a provisional order, 

 which would, in that case, be obtained by joint application of the 

 contractor and the local authority. At the time of expiration of 

 the provisional order, a right of pre-emption is accorded to the 

 local authority, against which it has been objected with much 



