ELECTRIC POWER FOR NGONGOTAHA

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 16, 10 September 1931, Page 5

ELECTRIC POWER FOR NGONGOTAHA

TOURIST DEPARTlVlENT WANTS . LICENSE, TQ EXTEND SERVICE. COUNTY COUNCIL DISCUSSION. When the inability of the Tourist Department to extend its electrical reficulation to the Ngongotaha district came before the Rotorua County Council some time ago,.the question was raised of obtaining the power froni the Tauranga Power Board. The opinion was theh expressed that while the Council had no wish. to take current from an outside electrical authority, it was nevertheless necessary that farmers in the district should have the benefit of reticulation at an early date. The question was raised again at yesterday's meeting of the County Council, when approval was sought by the Government for the issue of a license to the Toilrist Department to operat.e electrical reticulation over an extended area and outside the borough. In connection with this request, the Council conferred with Mr. ; H. J. Hardy, electrical engineer to the Department, who explained some aspects of the position, Cr. A. L. Keith, while not opposed to the operations of the Department, declared that vinless they could he assured of service, he would object to the issue of the license: Both Mr. J. Smythe and he were prepared to take the current this season and in each case only about one mile of line was required. The chairman (Mr. H. P. Ford), pointed out that some of the councillors were dubious of getting the current and they did not wish to support the issAe of a license which would be a bar to the operations of another authority. Unless power could be supplied it would be necessary for some farmers to instal benzine plants. Finance Needed. Mr. Hardy, electrical engineer to the Tourist Department, said it was not the fault of the Department, but was a question of obtaining the necessary finance. If the money was forthcoming he was hopeful of being able to do what the "Council wished this season. He declared that thb Department would not be allowed to lock up the district and not supply current. If the Department did not reticulate th(e farms some other authority would be allowed to do so. Cr. Keith wished to get his supply from the Department, but he did not want to lock up the area by a resolution. After further discussion it was decided to communicate with the Government stating that it understood that a grant of 1500 had been asked for by the Tourist Department to finance the reticulation in Ngongotaha, and urging that at least a jortion of the sum be provided to enable the current to be made available in time for the new dairying season. In view of this aspect of the question, it was decided not to oppose the issue of the license for the extended area.