ELECTRIC POWER

Hokitika Guardian, 9 October 1920, Page 2

ELECTRIC POWER

PROPOSED BOARD DISCUSSED Mr Miller, of the Government Do- n partment controlling electric power in the Dominion was in Hokitika yesterday, enquiring into conditions in regard to the proposed Power Board for Westland and he met a number of gentlemen at the County Chambers yester- .. day afternoon for the purpose of discussing the pros and cons of the local proposal, with a view to pushing matters to a definite conclusion. The County Chairman (Mr T. Bruce) outlined the proposal that local people Were proposing to carry into effect and the action taken to bring i'Z into effect the constitution of an electrie power, board for the district, stating that there had already been en- . quiries for power. They had endeavour w; ed in their application for the area to only include that part of the district i.-i where power would be likely to be utilised, from tlie Teremakau to the Mikonui rivers. ;• - j Mr G. A- Perry (Mayor of Hokitika) said that the only reason why the Hokitika Borough stood out of the move ment was because the Borough had, previously to the proposed formation of a Power Board, arranged a 30 years contract with the Kanieri Power Coy. ->% for the supply of electricity for light- ; g ing the town. Otherwise the Borough would have taken part in the movement, but it was considered the present contract was a very satisfactory one. ■ ~ Mr J. A .Murdoch said it was proposed to work on an output of 1500 •: . ; f| h.p. The new valuation of the Westland County would amount to over a ' million, instead of £600,000 as at present, he would stake his hat on it, that ~. .• is if the true values were represented. The district was in the position of" having some disadvantage from the fact - y that the Hokitika Borough had already made a contract for the supply of light, while the Ross Borough also - had an electric light installation in their <p town. There was an ample area, how- • ever, for the Board to have jurisidie- , tion over, and it was considered that j g£g the action should be carried'out as soon } as possible. i Mr R. Wild, (Chairman of the Pro- rUg; , gress League) expressed desire to hear . r the views of Mr Miller on the question - ’ which was of great importance to the - l district. _Jj Mr Miller in his reply stated that - 1 the policy of the Department was to assist and co-operate in the endeavour „• , to get Power Boards formed and he had come down here for that purpose, so gp r as to clear up matters that had arisen. ’ Jn drawing up the boundaries of the .s.-;,’. power board’s district they had jn- - . eluded the Boroughs of Hokitika, Ku- ’ mara and Ross, so as to give power and M ‘ strength to the movement. He had not ’ known when that was done that the 3 Borough of Hokitika had a 30 years contract already arranged. 'He was ; £. 3 quite prepared to form an outer area, 1 that is an area in which there would & not be power to rate. The boundar- * ? ies proposed would include the whole of Westland, the outer area being that ‘ portion of the County south of the Mj-j^ J konui, and the Boroughs of Hokitika, i- ' Ross and Kuniara, and the inner area = 1 that portion of the County between ' the Teremakau and Mikonni rivers. T *.y- - 1 unimproved value set down of the latter area was £198,000, and the capital • t value about £400,000, a total of £6OO,- * 000. , ; i It was stated that there was a desire - to hurry on the arrangements so that, , an election of the Power Board could i. be carried out on the same day as the . County Council elections and with this sin view, an early decision, was desired. "I, Mr Miller promised t 0 push on the enquiries and let the Council have a reply | l in about ten days time. I The question of supply was then re- 7.,.^ • ferred to Kanieri Lake, Tearoha and _ ’ the Government water race at *,«- ;-|g| mara being mentioned, this being le V for Mr Templin on his approaching visit . * to decide. It was also stated tha was desired to leave the way open for the Boroughs to come into the Board, if they so desired, at any future date and Mr Miller said their inclusion in the outer, or non-rating area woMd do so. It TO also mentioned that tie oomilation in the inner area totalled 3,272 or 80 per cent, of the population of Westland County. . After a further general discussion M Miller promised to do Tus best to facilitate tie gazetting of j. tie earliest possible moment • mi to ad - vise, them locally as soon as it was po sible of the course of action decid o A vote of thanks was passed o Mr Miller and the meeting terminated. , ;