CLAIM FOR STEAM POWER PLANT FOR WHAKATANE MADE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 78, 19 December 1949, Page 5

CLAIM FOR STEAM POWER PLANT FOR WHAKATANE MADE

In the event of steam generating plants being built throughout New Zealand representations are to be made to the Minister of Public Works pointing out the desirability of having a plant established at Whakatane, it was decided at the annual meeting of the Whakatane

Chamber of Commerce. While the Chamber will not press for one to " be built in the town it was felt that a steam generating plant near Whakatane would help to provide valuable power for a district that ■ is already very short of electricity. The suggestion was first made by Mr G. A. Wilkes, who said that he believed such plants were going to be built throughout the country. He thought Whakatane should-put forward claims to have one in the distirct, but near a railhead where coal could be shipped easily. Mr R. T. Morpeth suggested that a suitable position might be near •the Board Mills where coal could be brought in on the standard mill line. He agreed that Whakatane could do with much more power

yet and a steam generating plant 1 would be invaluable to the district. \ There might be a shorter cut to Jfhe power problem, Mr E. R. Dillicar said. He had been led to understand that the mill could supply all the power Whakatane needed. The secretary of the board mills,

Mr W. G. Clavis, said that power

could not be supplied outside the mill. The mill was short of power for' its own needs but he agreed that coal could be transported on the mill railway line and the same facilities could be used to supply a steam generating plant. ' The Chamber decided not to press Whakatane’s claims • unless the plants were actually .going to be established.