HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 August 1923, Page 3

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

AND THE POWER BOARDS. WELII.NGTOX. Aug. 23 Would the Minister for Public Works inform the Hou-e it lie had come to any definite conclusion in ro--peet of the legislation desired by the Southland Power Boards, a«ki-d the Hon ,1. A. ILiiiau (Invercargill) in the Iluti-c of Representatives yesterday afternoon. Did In approve of such legislation: and if not. in what direction did he propose that legislation should he enacted to tm-et the embarrassing po-ition in which tin- power hoaitls lot',ml them-elves : The Hon .1. G. Coates replied that the Crown Law Draftsman was now engaged in drafting a chuisc, which, it was anticipated, would tm-et to a great extent the difficulties iti which the hoard found themselves. The proposal of the hoards embraced an electricity supply rale, on much the same lines as the water rate, empowering tin* hoards to declare certain o-enpiers liable to pay for rates, and require them to pay them even if they did not take the current. Thai was a change from the present local bodv legislation and seemed iml’nir to occupier- in nnnreliewlati'd disfi-ieis. Me Ihnicht that the difficult v could lie settled by declaring rating areas which the boardproposed to reticulate, and these areas would then he liable for reticulation. The calculation as to the demand for power bv farmers had proved to bo con-iderahly under the mark. It had been thought that tho hoards would he able to reticulate a third ot the area that would take electricity, continued the Minister, but the hoards were not able to reticulate even a third; and if. would he unfair to strike a rate lor the whole of a hoard's area, while only narf of i: was reticulaten. He prona-e.l to submit tho draft danse to the power hoards, and to tho holt, members concerned ; and if the llottse accepted it he was' prepared to go in with it this session. If not, the matter would have to stand over to in*xi session.