PROGRESS RETARDED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 74, 15 May 1946, Page 5

PROGRESS RETARDED

WHAKATANE’S POWER QUOTA

NORMAL EXPANSION PREVENTED

The severe and unfair restrictions placed on Whakatane as "a result of the rationing of electrical power, were the basis of some caustic comment by speakers at last Monday’s meeting of the Borough Council. By comparison with other centres it was claimed that this town was by far the most harshly treated in this connection.

The matter was introduced by Cr R. Morpeth, who recently attended the meeting of Supply Authorities to protest agains the proposal to increase the power quota for the Auckland and Wellington power districts. Cr Morpeth said he made it his business to get all the information regarding other centres and their lighting problems and had learnt that while both Hamilton arid Auckland were heavily restricted, they were still able to have their street lighting and partial shop window lighting. Te Puke, Tauranga and Rotorua still had apparently full lighting facilities. To all appearances those centres had never had any restrictions.

Cr Sullivan said that the whole outlook of electricity supply was most unsatisfactory. Even when Karapiro was finished, Horahora would be ceasing to operate. There was every likelihood of the shortage going on for some years yet. Why the authorities had not installed alternative diesel oil engine plants, as a temporary tideover, he could not understand. Whakatane was growing faster than most towns of its size and that was probably causing the acute shortage.

The result was that the town was prevented from making its normal commercial and industrial expansion. It was only fair to expect sufficient power to at least enable the town to expand in a normal way.

Cr Sullivan said it was time the Government was asked exactly what steps it intended taking to overcome the existing shortage. He moved accordingly. Seconding, Cr Armstrong instanced the initiative displayed in a pri-vately-owned diesel plant at Whitianga, which installed in 1943 was now able to supply the whole demand for the district with no restrictions whatsoever.

“We have put up with these conditions all through the war,” said Cr Shapley, “and I think that something should be done to ease the present position. The streets are in darkness and are not safe at nights.” The motion was carried.