Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, NOVEMB. 30, 1920. HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

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

Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, NOVEMB. 30, 1920. HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

ELSEWHERE in this isme we puh-f lish a circular letter sent out by the Chairman of the Manawalu County Council to county ratepayers, requesting (hem to sign a petition to declare the County an independent Electrical Power District. The circular points out that Mr L. Bii’ks, chief Electrical Engineer, lately published a map, showing (hat (ho Department is of the opinion that the county should he linked up with Palmerston North and Eeihling boroughs, Kairanga, Oroua, Rohangina, and Kiwitca eoimlies, as an Electrical Power District. “The Council recognises that io the dairy farmers the supply of electricity for power purposes to ■ drive milking machines.' separators, etc., is of vital importance. As the ratepayers consist Largely of dairy farmers, and the district, is very closely settled, it will he seen al once how .essential it is that the necessary current, should he secured for them, and that the preliminary work of reticula I ion Humid he gone on with as soon as possible. If the County.was merely a unit in a large district, it is likely tlmtl his work might he delayed.” Palmerston also depulalionised the Minister with a request for an independent Board, hut the Minister seems to favour the one big board scheme, as outlined by Mr Birks. However, the Act affords an opening on the lines laid down by the County, which has its advantages, but if the Minister has the power to veto such application there is not much chance of success. The Manawatu County surrounds Foxton, and we would‘suggest that the Mayor convene a meeting of ratepayers to discuss the advisability of joining issue with the County, for if the County’s application is successful, the power would be available at a much earlier date than under the linger scheme. In any ease, a meeting of borough ratepayers as suggested would be educative.