ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 16 December 1920, Page 3

ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER

MUNICIPAL AND PRIVATE

ENTERPRISE

The meeting convened for last Thursday evening by the chairman of the Kaipara Dairy Factory Co., (Mr N. W. Rimmer) to consider proposals for installing electric light and power for surrounding farms, was attended by •some forty townspeople and farmers. The chairman of the Helensville Town Board (Mr Jas. Stewart) was voted to the chair.

As chairman of the Town Board, Mr Stewart first explained what steps the Board had taken in regard to electric lighting for the town. A poll of £7000 was recently carried by the ratepayers, but so far the Board had not been able to borrow the money. The scheme formulated only provided for light and power for the town district and the Springs area. To extend that area to include farms, authority would have to be secured, but on the advice of the Minister of Public Works (Hon. J. G. Coates) he saw no in getting the necessary permission. If the Board failed to borrow the amount authorised the people could put the money up themselves, in the form of debentures.

Mr Partridge, a representative of an Auckland firm, outlined a proposal for the meeting. The i speaker stated that it might be twenty years before hydrc-elec-tric power is available in this district. The district would have to help itself, as other places (notably Waiuku) were doing. The idea locally was to utilise the Dairy Company's plant, increasing the capacity to say 150 horse-power. Suction gas was the most economical method of running, and Mr Partridge detailed estimated cost of installing additional plant, erecting necessary wiring, installations, etc. The bulk of the power to farmers would be called on in the morning and at night, while the factory would utilise most during the day. He thought that £7000 (the amount the Town Board proposed to borrow) would not provide plant and reticulation and it was in the interest of the town and district to combine. The scheme proposed would enable the Board to buy power from the factory, and retail it to consumers. ..If.at any time the Government hydro - electric scheme came into the district, any plant the district possessed could be linked up. Mr Partridge stated that by running from the factory the scheme would be much more economical than if the Town Board installed and ran a plant, and detailed other ways in which the factory method would be a money saving proposition.

Mr Stewart said the Government would not agree to private interest competing against municipal enterprise, and he thought the scheme had no chance of success. If the farmers were really in earnest they could canvas the district and assist the Board with funds.

. Mr Rimmer: You as a Town Board never proposed anything for us as^farmers. Your scheme is to get us into a borough.

A discussion on matters foreign to the meeting —rating on improved and unimproved values —took place for a period, and the meeting got back to the light.

Mr West said it would be better for everyone to stick to municipal enterprise. If the Board could go to, say a twelve mile radius, a satisfactory scheme would be formulated.

Mr Aitkenhesd ; If the boundaries were extended a properly constituted Power Board would be established with equal representation,

After further discussion the meeting carried the following resolution, proposed by Mr W. F. Dear, and seconded by Mr Aitkenhead : " That this meeting set up a committee to go into matter outlined by Mr Partridge, confer with the Town Board, and report to a further meeting," The following . committee were appointed ; Messrs N, W. Rimmer, H. Aitkenhead, W. F, Dear, H. McLeod, J. C. Rimmer, R. Nicholls and V, H. McDonnell. % A vote of thanks to Mr Partridge and the chairman concluded the meetng.