THAMES VALLEY HYDROELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 144, 7 August 1919, Page 1

THAMES VALLEY HYDROELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

A meeting of representatives of the local bodies constituting the above board was held in the Piako County Chamber, Te Aroha, on Friday, tho president (Mr F. M. Strange) presiding.

i The chairman said the meeting was to report progress and decide on a plan of campaign for the immediate future. He detailed what had transpired at the deputation's meeting with the Hon. Minister, for Public Works at Auckland some weeks ago. The Minister had told them the Arapuni scheme would supplypower cheaper than any other place in the Dominion. The Government was negotiating with the Waihi Company for the acquisition of the Horahora plant. Part of the information given was confidential, but the Minister would not commit himself to a definite promise to purchase Horahora.

Mr Strange added that the Minister had mentioned six years as tbe time required to construct the Arapuni works. The Government would, he understood, lay a lino down the centre of a given district, and sell the power to the board or boards at certain points. Mr Price suggested writing direct to the delegates from each local body. His board had instructed its clerk to supply as soon as possible data asked for. The board's solicitor presented a large map showing the proposed boundaries of the Power Board district. The area embraced the whole of the counties of Matamata, Piako, Ohinemuri and Thames. Waihi Borough would have to he omitted. Probably the western riding of the Matamata county would prefer inclusion in the Waikato board's district-

The secretary undertook to in--terview the Survey Department when in Auckland next week and endeavor to expedite matters. The quostion of preparing and circulating the petition among ratepayer of the various districts was considersd. The petition was to ask the Governor to constitute on Electric Power District. One fourth of the ratepayers in each of the included local body areas must sign infavor,otherwise that particular area must be excluded and will be treated afterwards as an outer area, the boundaries being altered accordingly. If a district fails to se-

cure its requisite one-fourth, and is thus excluded, it can apply later to come in, but if successful it would not have representation on the board.

It was decided to engage Mr R. Sprague's services from date until formation of the district is an accomplished fact at a salary of £6 per week, plus actual travelling expenses. The cost will be borne at present by the local bodies within the area.

All the delegates reported that their district ratepayers were keenly in favor of the project. There would not be much difficulty in getting signatures, in the closely-settled districts especially. It was decided to invite the Waikato board to co-operate with the board in deputationising the Minister for Public Works during his visit to the district during the present month. The question of representation on the board was considered. It was finally decided on the motion of Messrs Flatt and Strange, to move for- representation as under:—Counties two each, boroughs one each, and the two town districts (combined) one member. It was pointed out in explanation, that the previous meeting (a largely attended one) had resolved in favor of twelve members. There was no opposition to each town district having a vote, but the twelve provided for did not permit of this desire being given effect to.