PROPOSED FRANKLIN ELECTRICITY EXTENSION SCHEME.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 475, 24 October 1919, Page 3

PROPOSED FRANKLIN ELECTRICITY EXTENSION SCHEME.

Borough Council Discussion, Basis of Suggested Agreement.

The above proposed scheme was further discussed at the meeting of the Pukekoho Borough Council on Wednesday night. Present: His Worship the Mnyor (Mr C K Lawrie), D. R. Hamilton, J. H. Keith, F J Morrow, R. Bilkey, J. Patterson, A. P. Daysh, G. Armstrong, the clerk, Mr J. F. Deane, the engineer, Mr W. Wyirtt, and the foreman, Mr S. Clews.

The Mayor said one of the main points to be considered was whether or not the Borough would l>e justified in parting with the ownership of the Borough plant, at fiir a rnpensation. What was wanted was a fair deal to both borough a< d county ratepayers. Cr Patterson said that when he was on the Council previously he had always understood that the Borough Counci l were going to hold its plant, and not scrap it, with a'l probable profits. Such a policy would be selling its birthright, and would be placing practically the whole authority in the hands of outsiders, and force the Borough to buy power from the proposed power board The Borough itself should supply the power in bulk at a given price. The Mayor explained that the matter had not got as far as Cr Patterson assumed.

Cr Patterson replied that the delegates were already appointed to put the scheme before the ratepayers of the County. According t > the List meeting of delegates, Pukekohe was merely to com- 1 ia ou fqual terms with outside places, though it was the Borough's plant to start with, and Borough scheme in the first place. Cr Hamilton thought that if the Council were to hand over its plant now, it would have been better to have allowed Tumbull and Jones to have run the plant in the first instance thems.lv's What was wanted was an equitable .scheme to all paities. It was estimated that the extra plant requited would cost £16,000, auother £7,000 for retu - H ! ati<>n within the Borough. The maimer (Mr Wyitt, instanced several ether places which were supplying current to outside bodies, namely, Tuurangn, Christchurch, Auckland (in prospect), Havelock, find others.

1: was also pointed out that as waterworks were driven by the oltc'ric plant, that was an additional reason for why the plant should ho retained hy tho Borough. Cr Keith reminded the Council that the original intention was that the Borough would have to put in more plant for its own use, and that it could thereafter supply to outside Indies if the latter wanted it. Cr Hamilton concurred, stating that he was responsible for the original report. Tho outside bodies would be in as good ground as Pukekohe, since they would be on the same footing as the Borongh in regard to consumers' cost.

The engineer stated that no one, not all the outside places together, could supply themselves with current at as low a cost as the Borough could let them have it for.

Cr Hamilton emphasised that if all the outside bodies came in it would be possible to run a 2-1-hour lighting and power service, which would be a big advantage to everyone.

Ultimately the following peiiesof motions were carried unaninioui-ly.

Cr D. R. Hamilton moved ar.d Cr A. P. Daysh seconded the moti n : (a) "That this Council is prewired to sell current to any outside local body, at a rate per kilowatt to be agreed upon, for a term of ten years. If any such local body wished to cancel such agreement, owing to Government or other available supply, it would have to pay a yearly sum for the balance of the period between the cancellation of the contract and the termination of the ten years' contract This sum would have to be determined by an actuary, and would be such as would compensate the Borough Council for its annual loss owing to the terminption of the contract. Durisg the period when the local body was piying such yearly sum a 9 compensation it would have the right to demand that the Borough Council would be prepared to renew the supply at hours' notice, and it eould demand of the Borough Council that it keep its plant in such condition that it would lie a reserve power in case of a break down in the Government or any othur source of energy.

(b) "That the Council in willing to enter into an agreement with anj outside local body fur the upkeep and maintenance of any roticulalion mains, or for the erection of the same, suih contract to be terminable by six months' notice on cither side (c). "That this Council is prepared to enter into an agie nient to keep in repair and rend meters ami collect account*, the ; an.o t<- ••" terminable on either side by '■ tltlis' lioti( o " The above is snhji ct t" the approval of the (.Viiihil'h '..':. it, r Cr Hamilton whh adoed to ih<« lighting committee, which was in Vim t< d to i'i' pare a report "I' the !'.or.aie.h nij';iieii,ents in connexion u itli the. si teine, tli" same to lie . otnposi ii in i o-oj e. ulion with the Koroiigli or gim i r