HOROWHENUA ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

Shannon News, 2 May 1922, Page 3

HOROWHENUA ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua Electric Power Board was held in Levin last week. Present: The chairman (Mr G. A. Monk) and Messrs. D. W. Matheson, W. H. Gunning, A. Siefert, A. Mackay, C. Kilsby, Barber, F. Whibley and A. A. Brown.

QUESTION OF FINANCE. The chairman reported upon the result of the joint deputation of power boards which waited to the Prime Minister in regard to their finance requirements. The Prime Minister had absolutely declined to give any guarantee that the State would back a loan in London, but would give any assistance he could outside that. One way in which this could be 'done was by the Government using temporarily any loan money the Board might not immediately require, and so lessen the interest cost. The chairman of the Manawatu Board proposed to call

the delegates together to- considef the position. This Board would need to ascertain as soon as possible the amount of money it would have to raise by loan, and it would take some time to get the loan proposals put before the ratepayers. Whoever was appointed Engineer would have to give some idea of the money required. It was essential to know this as soon as possible. The matter was held over pending the appointment of an Engineer, the chairman remarking that Horowhenua would be ready for the power as soon as some of the other boards in the group. It would have to be ready. RATING ARRANGEMENTS.

The chairman said it would be necessary to decide how the rate that would be struck as security for advances from the bank would be collected if it was required. The local bodies could collect the rate for, say, 5 per cent, and do it cheaper than the Board, as they were already issuing rate notices -and had rolls in existence.

On Mr Matheson’s motion, seconded by Mr Gunning, it„was decided that any general rate struck by the Power Board be collected by the various local bodies within the Board’s district as per section 13 of the ElectricPower Boards Amendment Act, 1920. Offers were received from two firms

willing to raise loans for the Board

Formal resolutions required by the bank in connection with the rate that is to be struck as security for advances were- passed. T&E ACTING-SECRETARY.

The arrangement arrived at with the Horowhenua County Council by which Mr Goldsmith becomes acting-secre-tary to the Power Board was confirmed. Mr Goldsmith was also appointed treasurer to the Board. GENERAL. The secretary said that temporary offices would be required immediately and he suggested that an effort be made to obtain the old fire brigade station for the purpose. The Board approved of this, and the • chairman and Messrs. Seifert and Brown were appointed a committee to deal with the matter.

The chairman, secretary and Messrs

Seifert and Matheson were - appointed x a sub-committee to go into the proposed expenditure during the current twelve months.