MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2209, 30 November 1920, Page 2

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

HYDRO-ELECTRIC DOWER. ~ BOARD. ‘ -HL CIRCULAR. LETTER TO RATEPAYERS. The following circular letter to the ratepayers of the Manawatu County Council has been forwarded by the Chairman: — “Sanson, November, 1920. “The Manawa'tu County Council has given special attention to the question of the* supply of electrical current to the Ratepayers when the Mangahao scheme is completed and the current available for use. “As long ago as 1918 the Council ■applied for a license to distribute this current, but the matter was deferred by the .Government. Mr L. Birks, Chief Electrical Engineer, lately published a map showing that the Department is of the opinion that the county should bo linked up with Palmerston North and Redding boroughs, Kairauga, Oroua, Pohaiigiua and Kiwilea comities, as an electrical power district. .Several consultations have taken place with Mr Birks on the subject, and representatives have attended four conferences with other local bodies, and given fullest consideration to the matter. At a special meeting, the Council decided that it was in I he interests of the ratepayers that, the County should lie declared an electrical power district by itself, to enable it to go on with the reticulation of the county by securing and erecting the poles, so that when the current is available our Ratepayers would get immediate 1 advantage of it. To show that the Council is in earnest in this matter, initial steps N nave already been taken to secure a .-utlicicnt supply of poles.

“The Council recognises that lo ilit* dairy fanners the supply of electricity for power purposes to drive milking machines, separators, etc,, is of vital importance. As the ratepayers consist largely of dairy tanners, and the district is very closely settled, it. will be seen' at once how essential it is that the necossary current should he secured for them, and that the preliminary work of reticulation should he gone on with as soon as possible. If the County was merely a unit in a large district, it is likely that this work might be delayed. “In the interests of the ratepayers, and for the honolit of production, wo therefore are taking advantage of (lie Act and applying for a license! This requires a petition of ratepayers. There are over 3,000 ratepayers in the county, and oik* fourth of these, must sign the p<L I lion before if is in order, bnl'w'e a\ at least half of 'the ratepayers to sign it, so as to carry greater weight. The Council would earnestly advise you lo make every effort lo sign the petition when notice is given where this can be done. Yc want this done quickly, and we urge you, in your own interests, to sign (he petition. Do not wait till you are called <m. .Go and sign it at once. It will ho announced in a few davs where and whom to go to. — JAMES G. WILSON, Chairman."