STATE MONOPOLY OPPOSED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 49, 26 May 1950, Page 4

STATE MONOPOLY OPPOSED

Sir, —I would like to substantiate my previous remarks on electricity by putting before you the views of the Mayor of Auckland! When opening the 19th annual conference of the Electric Power Boards and Supply Authorities Association (26/9/47) he said: Every supply authority should if it so desired be free to generate its own supply. He continued: A State monopoly in the use of the main source of water might be necessary. (A line of demarcation must be drawn here; State monopoly is centralised control) but he had never been able to understand why the State should take to itself the sole right of generating electricity for public distribution!. He then admits the disadvantages of centralised control. When he added: I have been impressed by the enterprise and initiative of many electrical engineers in this country, who had the power would I believe, propound schemes for the generation of electricity, which, without harming the Government’s supply would be of inestimable benefit to the public. (Yes, in outlying districts)'. And he had no doubt of the necessity for the retail distribution to remain in the hands of the various supply authorities. So what are our local authorities going to do about_ it?

Yours etc., W. BRADSHAW. Whakatane, May 25...