OTAKI WANTS AN ASSURANCE.

Shannon News, 20 October 1922, Page 2

OTAKI WANTS AN ASSURANCE.

THAT 111 WILL BE RETICULATED EARLY. DISCUSSION BY POWER BOARD. As a necessary preliminary towards being able to lift its loan moneys and start the work of erecting lines, the Horowbenua Power Board must obtain the consent of its interior boroughs and counties to commence operations on their roads and streets. At Tuesday s meeting letters were received from Lie Hutt and Horowhcnua Counties and the Foxton Borough agreeing to this. It was intimated that Levin Borough had agreed, but the Manawatu County Council had not yet met--. ||n regard to Otaki, Mr C. Kilsby said-'he wished to make a statement.

Mr Kilsby said the position was that Otaki had already had a license for reticulating the Borough and had carried two polls for the purpose. Their electrical engineer was ready to go on with the erection of the lines immediately. Under those circumstances Otaki con-, sidered they should not give up thenlicense unless they got an assuiance that the Horowlienua Power Board would put the work of reticulation through in good time. If the Boa id would give that assuiance lie was quite sure the Otaki Council would give its consent. Otaki was in rather a peculiar position. Tile Chairman (Mr Monk) said Otaki was putting the Boa:d in a pecubai position. The Board avus proceeding as fast as it could and intended to take the power first to those people like Otaki who wanted it most. If the Board could uot get its loan mone>* it A\ r as completely held irp and it could not get the money until the Otaki Council consented to the Board erecting its lines in the Borough. “What sort of assurance do you want,” asked ihe Chairman, "a joint and several'm- a personal bond. 2 ”

Mr Kilsby said Otaki did not .cant, to be left till the last. >

The Chairman said the Board Avould reticulate the districts first Avliich avciC likely to pay best and Otaki, because it had no lighting or power, Avas expected to be one of the best.

Mr Kilsby said Otaki was keen on having the poA\ r er and light. The position tal*en up by the Borough Council was against his advice, but he had p e misod to represent the matter to the Board.

The Chairman: We are proceeding as fast as pos; iblc. Until Otaki waives its license avc cannot lift .the loan. Until -we get the money we cannot push on the work. Mr Kilsby said the Borough Council was in a position to go on er.d co: sidered it might retiqulate the town luucn quicker than the Horowlienua Power Board. The Chairman: Whci'“ arc you going to get the power. You will harm to generate your oavii poAver. Mr Kilsby said Otaki was in the position of having a licence for raHdilating their district, and before waiA-ing it Avaiited some assurance that they Avould get early attention. The Chairman said Otaki Avould be left if it took up an unreasonable attitude.

Mr Blown pointed out that places like Levin Avhie'u 'already had light and poAver Avould not be so anxious to get the Mangahao power. He described the matter as a storm i:i a tea.-cup. was blowing bubbles. (Laughter).

Mr Kilsby paid Olaki was' not: blowing bubbles at ad. He would go beck and tell 1 lie Corned l ’ e board's view and lie thought lie eomd promise a y objections Otaki bad would be waived and consent be given.

The Chairman: We can give you an assurance that when tlm power :s linked up with Mangah.no Olaki would be reticulated to receive it. That is ihe policy of the Board. The Chairman added that when he and the engineer w’aitcd on the Mayor of Olaki, lie said that until the Board got: its license, Otaki would not waive ihe'rs. The Public Works Department raid that when the Board got its license, the Otaki license automatically terminated, but the Board could not get its license until Otaki consented to allow it to take over the reticulation. The longer that consent was withheld, the longer the Board-was-going .to bo behind when the time came.

Mr Kilsby said he would put the matter before (lie Council in that light and the Chairman, who said they quite understood Mr Kilsby's position, offered to wait on the Otaki Council and explain the matter further. Mr Gunning undertook to wait on the Shannon Borough Council and expedite the matter so far as they were concerned.

A meeting, arranged at very short notice was held' at the Otaki Council Chambers o’' Tuesday, there being present Messrs G. A. Monk, A. A. Brown,

J. McLeavey (representing*! the HydroElectric Power Board) and His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. P. Brant Ion), Crs. H. Cockrell, C.' Kilsby, R. C.arkeek, and .Mr F. G. Davies (engineer). It was pointed out by the Powe r Board members tha,t plans were nocw ready to forward to the Government t, but could not be sent without the con sent of the Borough Council. The Ma yor said he -was anxious to see the wor).c proceeded with and asked for the assurance that the Board would get reticulation done as early as possible in.; Otaki. Mr Monk said in the interests f-of all it was desirable to expedite the work and to give attention to the largest centres first. He stated, that Otakri was looked upon as one of the main, distributing centres. The Council agreed to the suggestion, and a lotto r of authority was given, subject to thie Counciljg engineer always consulting with the Borough engineer relative., to situation of poles, ' etc. r . -