POWER BOARD'S AREA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4747, 5 September 1924, Page 3

POWER BOARD'S AREA.

TKANSFEB OF TERRITORY ASREB. HELP FOR LOCAL BODY'. At Tuesday’s meeting of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board Mr T. Hinton, chairman of the Central Power Board, Hamilton, waited upon the board with a proposal that the Thames Valley Board transfer a portion of its territory in Scotchman’s Valley, near Morrinsville, to .the Central Board. In explanation, Mr Hinton said that the matter had arisen at the instance of the Tamahere Road Board, which had raised a loan of £33,000 for roadihetallihg, and the cost of quarrying the metal at Tauhei would be reduced by Is 6d a cubic yard by the installation of an electric motor to drive the machinery. The Central Board’s area could be extended another three and a half miles farther into the Thames Valley Board’s area and take in seven consumers. The Central Board was not keen on the proposal, but it wished to help the Tamahere Road Board to obtain cheaper metal. The chairman (Mr F. H. Claxton) said he considered that his board should assist the proposal to give power to the quarry, but the, matter, shoul.d be inspected fully. He suggested that a committee be. set up to go into the matter so .that arrangements could be expedited, and he promised that the matter would receive the board’s consideration. He considered that the area proposed to be transferred would not be of any use to the. Thames Vall.ey Board for many years to come. The ne\y boundary might be a little irregular, but he did not think that would be a serious matter. The. power board should make every endeavour to assist settlers and others to acquire electric light and power. Mr Howie (Morrinsville) agreed that the Thames'. Valley Board could not use the Tauhei area at the present time. Mr Flatt said he was against transferring any of the board’s area. Mr Hinton stated that the Central Board would assume the financial liability of the reticulation and maintenance of the area in guestion. The chairman considered that if the area could not be reticulated by the Thames Valley Board it would be better to allow another board to do it. A committee, comprising the chairman, Messrs Thomas and Strange, and the engineer and manager, was set up to inspect the area and go further into the matter with the Central Board, and then submit a report on the whole matter.