PROPOSED ELECTRIC LIGHT SCHEME.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 649, 12 July 1921, Page 5

PROPOSED ELECTRIC LIGHT SCHEME.

FOR MAUKU RIDING. . There is a proposal on foot to establish an electric light scheme, in the Mauku riding of the Franklin County. At last Thursday’s meeting- of the Franklin County Council Mr J Henry, Patumahoe, forwarded the following resolution passed at a meeting of Mauku riding ratepayers to consider abd discuss the proposed Mauku electric scheme and the proposal to include the Mauku and that part of the Pukekohe West riding between the Mauku boundary and the Pukekohe borough boundary in the area to be operated by the Waiuku syndicate: 4 — 4 Proposed by Mr Wily, seconded by Mr Davis, that this meeting of ratepayers of the Mauku riding urge the Franklin County Council to provide a comprehensive scheme for supplying electric energy for the County and that failing the Council promulgating such a scheme, that they, the Council, defer grantingrights to the Waiuku syndicate to operate in the Mauku and Pukekohe West ridings for a period of .twelve months.'”

In support of the resolution, Messrs H. E. R. Lj Wily and W. G. Hill, of Mauku, waited on the Council. Mr Wily first of all apologised for the absence of Messrs J. Henry ijind Baigent, who were appointed with him to form a deputation to wait on the Council concerning the matter.

In the course of his remarks, Mr Wily said that the ratepayers of the Mauku riding did not look favourably on the monopoly granted the Waiuku electrical syndicate over certain parts of the county, which included the Mauku riding. He pointed out that it would be* before they would receive any benefits from the company The ratepayers of Mauku were of the opinion t hat they should have a better chance of receiving electric power at a more reasonable price from the Pukekohe Borough Council than the Waiuku syndicate. If this monopoly was granted it was without the consentsof the ratepayers concerned. He understood the proposal was to give the Waiuku syndicate a monopoly for 20 years, and charge rates for power which would give them' a profit of 12 per cent. The Mauku ratepayers resented this. On behalf of the Mauku people he asked for the riditig to be left out of the scheme for a period of twelve months. He added that Mauku had wateralls of its own and he considered that they were entitled to sufficient time to promulgate a ysrheme of their own. If they did not do anything, then they would know who to blame. It was only reasonable to ask .that the riding be left out of the district for twelve months. He also urged upon the Council the advisability of dealing with a comprehensive scheme. There was no doubu that the riding generally would get better service from the Pukekohe Borough than from a private company, such a company as it was, with a large area to operate over. It would be a long time before they would get a service, if ever Oil behalf pf the Mauku riding, he made a strong appeal for the request to be acceded to. Mr Hill endorsed Mr Wily’s remarks and emphasised the fact that when the hydro-electric power from the Waikato passed here or near the district, and when the district was reticulated, they would be better served than if they were attached to the Waiuku district.

>Cr. Wilcox, in referring to the post action of the Council, pointed out that the representative of the Mauku riding that time was working for the good of the county as v/ell as for the welfare of the Mauku riding; and if the matter was gone into it would be found that the interests of the ratepayers had been conserved. The matter under consideration was one that could not be dealt with in an hour, but it would be considered and probably s, special meeting of the Council would be called.

Mr Wily said the ratepayers were very much opposed to the scheme. He hoped that when the meeting was called they would receive notice, as ratepayers were entitled to attend. The acting-chairman assured Mr Wily they would receive notice of the meeting. The deputation returned thanks and withdrew. Subsequently the Council resolved to call a special meeting so that the matter could be dealt with.