PURCHASE OF POWER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4695, 7 May 1924, Page 2

PURCHASE OF POWER.

o- — PaEROA'S AITLILATION REFUSED. NUT IN INTERESTS OF BOARD. At the April meeting of the Thames Valley Power Board a teller was received from the Paeroa Borougn Council asking for parliciilais as io the cost ol reticulation within tn-j boiough area, and other information, amt also tlie price at which tlie board would consider handing over the reticulation to the council and tlie charge for current in bulk. A committee was appointed to go into tlie matter, aud at the board’c meeting yesterday the following recommendation was tabled:— “That the best interests of the Electric Power Board's area will be conserved by retaining all such reticulation as being essential factors of the main scheme.’’

Mr Flatt emphatically protested against the board’s action in tlie matter, and considered that the decision was hardly a fair one. He contended that so far as the Paeroa borough was concerned it was quite prepared to pay for its power. He thouhgt the board should fix its price so that K would be repaid for any outlay, and not dictate to a section of the public. He realised that the board must protect its interests, but it had np right to refuse any section of the public within its area the right to purchase electricity in bulk and retail it to the public. The chairman, in moving tlie adoption of the report, said that he wishe I to clearly dissociate himself from th ■ boroughs and town boards concerned. The matter hiid been given very careful consideration, and had come to the conclusion that the board must re tain its areas. He was prepared to admit that certain localities had peculiarities in relation to the supply of power, but at present the position could not be much altered, but every endeavour was being made to give satisfactory service by the board. Isolated units would eventually be linked up with the central body. The success of the development of hydroelectricity in New Zealand depended very largely on centralisation, thereby reducing the overhead charges to a minimum, with the result that consumers in turn would be asked to pav only the minimum for electricity. Mr Strange said that the .success of the hydro-electricity scheme depended upon tts entirety, and he considered that it would be a retrograde step to subdivide any portion of the board’s area. Mr Flatt thought the matter should be deefrred for a month to enable members to go fully into the question, and he moved in that direction, but there was no seconder to his amendment, and the resolution was carried. At the Thames Valley Power Board meeting yesterday accounts totalling £13,625 5s lid were passed for payment. A request was received at yesterday’s meeting of (he Thames Valley Power Board from the Te Aroha Fire Brigade for a donation towards its piano fund. Mr Flatt said he thouglit that all fire brigades should receive support on account of the fire protection work carried out. but he could not support the authorisation of a donation towards a piano fund, it was decided to decline tlie application.