HOROWHENUA POWER DISTRICT.

Shannon News, 23 December 1921, Page 4

HOROWHENUA POWER DISTRICT.

la,ted on the progress that had been made. The cost' Involved, £4l 19/6, was very small, and was a striking tribute to the ability of Mr Goldsmith. He agreed with the chairman that the very best men were wanted on the Power Board, as it rested with that body whether the installation was to be made a complete success. With regard to reimbursing Mr Goldsmith, he thought the Provisional Committee could make a recommendation to the board on that matter. Mr Harkness was certain the whole of the power from the scheme would be utilised, and urged that this district; should see to it that it got its full share.

Mr McKay agreed with the previous speakers on the satisfactory stage that had been readied, and congratulated the chairman, secretary and members of the committee.

Mr Chrystall said he agreed with the statements made in regard to the personnel of the Power Board. The greatest schemes in the world' might be spoiled by had management, anu they should strive to get the best men on the hoard. He congratulated the secretary on his excellent work, which should he fittingly recognised. Mr C. Kiishy supported the remarks made, but thought the committee shouid fix the payment to lire secretary. Mr Matheson stressed the necessity of getting the best men elected to the board, but he thought the trouble would be to get the men who had both the ability and time to devote to the job. It was a.new undertaking, and the board would be starring trom scratch, and had the opportunity ol making good. Mr Goldsmith stated that quite-a lot of bouquets bad been thrown at him that day, but he was an enthusiast in regard to the installation of hydroelectric energy, and he appreciated the privilege of having had a .share in initiating a scheme of the kind, it had been a great pleasure to him to assist, and he asked that the question of payment be left with the board. The report was then adopted. ENTHUSIASM WANTED.

In reply to Mr ChrystalJ, the chairman said the local bodies would conduct the board election in their districts.

The secretary added that the nominations would close a week before the election, which was fixed for February 1.

The chairman said he was afraid there might be apathy in regard to tile election. They shouid endeavour to get the people worked up and interested in matter.

Mr Matheson said the responsibility rested' on the local body representatives to do that. The chairman considered it rested' with the people themselves—they were responsible for the election of hie board. Mr Matheson: Well, I don’t know who Is going to take it up if not the local bodies.

The chairman: Why not’ the dairy companies? They are going to -be users of power. They should work up interest among their shareholders and suppliers. Then there are the flaxmillers. He suggested writing to the dairy conipanies on those lines. Mr Kiishy: I am chairman ol a dairy company, and don’t‘think any of the suppliers would turn up if a meeting was called.

Mr Matheson said the Provisional Committee should go further in it's work and organise for the election to get the best men. The chairman: You will never get the best men unless you go after them. Mr Goldsmith said a circular to the dairy factories would perhaps meet the position. The chairman stated that there were six co-operative dairy companies in the county, viz., Tokornaru, Shannon, Levin, Kuku, Te Iloro and Paraparaiimu. He moved that representatives from those bodies and the Flaxmillers’ Association be asked to attend a meeting in Levin on January 14 and discuss the matter and work up interest in the election of the board. The motion was carried.

Mr Matheson: It is clearly understood that the boroughs undertake their own organisation in regard to the election, the same as the county is doing. The chairman: That is so; Levin, Shannon, Otaki and the other bodies can mnke their own arrangements. On the motion of Mr Harkness, a recommendation was made to the incoming Power Board for suitable payment to Mr Goldsmith for his services.

Votes of thanks to the chairman and secretary concluded the meeting.

LAST MEETING OF PROVISIONAL COMMITTEE.

The final meeting of the Provisional Committee of til? rrorowhenua Electric Power District was held on luesday, me- delegates present being Messrs. G. A. Monk and C. 1. Harkness (Horowhenua County Council), A. McKay (Hull County), i. Chrystall (Foxion Borough Council), C. Kilsby (Otaki Borough Council), and D. W. Matheson (Levin Borough Council). Mr Monk presided. SECRETARY’S REPORT.

The secretary (Mr P. W. Goldsmith) reported: Since the last meeting of the committee, which took place on August 27, 1921, the Electric-power district of Horowhenua lias , become an actual fact. The signatures to the petition were obtained under the authority of the various local bodies of the district, and the thanks of the committee are due to those town and county clerks who- assisted in bringing about the canvass for signatures, and lor furnishing the necessary certificates relating thereto, i'fie last of the constituent district petitions reached me on October .21, and the next day the petition-in-chiei was duly advertised, as required by the provisions ol the Electric-powei Boards Act, and one month had to elapse beiore it could be’presented. On November 24, in company with the chairman oi the Provisional Committee (Mr G. A. Monk), 1 took the petition with the accompanying declarations, also the three maps which had been prepared, and-lctt the same with the Under-Secr'etary lor Public vVorks. The petition evidently proved to be in order, as in terms ol tire Electric Pow'er Boards Act, 1918, the Horowhenua. EJectric-Power District was constituted/ by proclamation dated November 29, and publisned in the New Zealand Gazette'on the Ist inst. Alter consulting as many of the local authorities as I could, >. Wednesday, February 1, 1922, was the date suggested lor the election of a power board. This, 1 understand, will be the actual elate of .the election. Owing to the holidays, to -the necessary attention to the electoral rolls in the fari•ous constituent , districts, and to the time required under the Local Elections and Polls Act to carry out an election, it was not, feasible to fix the date earlier. The preliminary expenses incurred (which have been paid by the Horowhenua County 'Council, and will in due course be refunded by the Board) wall not amount to more than £SO, a statement is furnished with this report. There lias been a .considerable amount of voluntary work done by various/members of the jominittee, which has helped, to keep down the expenditure. No legal expenses have been incurred, and the board when elected will have a perfectly free hand in selecting its engineer, as the committee lias not called in engineering assistance, and is under iio. obligation to anyone. In contusion, i wish tu convey -to the members oi the committee, and to the officers oi the various local authorities, and to the officers of the Public Works Department, my sincere thanks for courtesy and assistance ing about the formation ol' the Horowdienua, Electric-Power District.. The secretary added that the actual expense so far involved in the constitution of the district wms £D. 19/6, and there may be a lew small additional accounts.

POWER BOARD PERSONNEL

Before moving the 1 adoption of the report, the chairman said their duty as a provisional committee was now complete. The next duty was the election of a power board for ihe sale ot power to those requiring it. That brought him to the personnel of the ijoard, whiclrhad to be a purely business concern, and ' they wanted men with business experience. It was tffe duty uf the constituents of the district, therefore, to see that they returned as members of the board the very best men in their districts. It was no use'if the board was unfortunate enough not to run the business successfully to blame the board—the electors must see that the best men were elected to make a success of the business. A very important point was for the Board to have its plans completed for the the power when the power was turned on. Having the whole of the power disposed oi L meant that they were going to start off under the best conditions and with a good income. Any power that remained unsold meant a loss. He then referred to the excellent way the petition had been prepared by Mr Goldsmith. When the petition was presented to the Department, the officers were agreeably surprised with it s completeness. Mr Gaidsmitfp was worthy of special thanks for the important part he had played in the formation of the power board. He said that the secretary’s services would have to be recognised by an adequate payment, and then moved the adoption of the report. Mr Harkness seconded the chairman’s motion, and considered the pro-

visional committee could be congratu-