HYDRO-ELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1918, Page 7

HYDRO-ELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT.

'- : - LEAGIIE"H3KMED'IN,'TARAKAKI. A conference of representatives of local and other Jjuainess coneerus interested in the formation of a Hydro-eloc-tric League for Taranaki was held at the Stratford Borough Council Chambers yesterday. There were about 4St present, including' delegates from tits following local bodies:—Stratford Borough Council, Messrs McMillan, Hunter, Cameron, and Thompson; . Stratford County Council, Messrs Walters and Mackay; Hawera Borough Council, Messrs Dixon and Lewis; Hawera County Council, Messrs Murdoch and Linn; Waitara Borough Council, Mr. Morgan; Clifton County Council Messrs Pigott and Kennington; Waitara Harbor Board,. 'Mr. J. Hine; New Plymouth" Borough Council, Messrs Clarke, Bellringer, and Bartley; Taranaki County Council, Mr. Morton; Inglewood Borough Council, Mr. Young; Moa Road Board, Messrs Todd and Lyon; Eltham. Borough Council, Mr. Crump; Eltham County Council," Mr. Belcher; Manaia Town Board, Mr. Bridge; Egmont County Council, Mr. Wright; Waimate West County Council, Mr. Bridge; Patea County Council, Messrs Taylor and Diefca; Patea Harbor Board, Messrs Christiansen and Grainger; Kaponga Town Board, Mr. Guy; Opunake Town Board, Mr. Cornish; Ohura Couuty Council, Mr. Meredith; Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, Messrs Johns and Penn; Bltham Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Guy; Stratford Chamber of Commerce, Messrs Richards and KirkwoQd.

The Mayor of Stratford (Mr- J. W. McMillan) welcomed the delegates, and expressed his pleasure at the response made by the local bodies to the council's invitation to the conference. The idea of the conference arose out of the needs of the Stratford Borough, which required more and cheaper power, and that could not be seeured without a big expenditure.. In vie - *, therefore, of the fact that the Government had a big scheme planned, it was thought unwise to proceed with such expenditure, and the assistance of all the local bodies in the province was sought with a view to urging upon the Government the necessity of proceeding with their scheme at the earliest possible moment. The matter was of national importance and was a 6onnd economic proposition with big prospects before it. Ho referred to the Iranedin and Christchurch schemes, which had been the means of big savings in capital, labor, end fuel. To produce the annual output of the take Coleridge hydro-electrical system would consume about 60,000 tons of coal per annum. By means of the hydro generation, the lighting cost had been reduced from 5d to 3d per unit, power from 2y 2 d to Id, and wholesale power was sold at %d per unit. The eystem had brought about higher efficiency, and also been the means of 'establishing several new industries, which would 'oe the basis of other industries in tie near future- The war had been the means of blinding the country somewhat to tiie necessity for developing its industries, and he considered it was up to all to try and foster every possible industry in the country. In Christchurch a profit of £14,000 had been shown, according to the Mayor's statement, and their original loans would soon be wiped out. All the dairy factories in proximity to the scheme had linked up with it, and the Tai Tapu Dairy Company had, in addition, a complete reticulation scheme for all its suppliers. Referring to the Government proposals for the North Island, Mr. McMillan said the Government engineer (Mr. Parry) had estimated that the capital expenditure would be returned within four years oil the saving in coal alone. If that was so, he did not understajod why the Gc-vernment had marked time on account of the war, and he thought combined effort should be made to help the Government to make up its mind to go right on with the scheme. With the responsibilities in connection with war commitments piling up, he thought au,ch a scheme should commend itself to all who favored sound economy. He then stated that as the agenda, paper that had been prepared, including several suggested resolutions, was in the hands of the delegates' they might consider it while they were the guests of the Borough Council at afternoon tea. An adjournment was then made to the Medina Tea Boonts, where the delegates were entertained by the council. On resuming, Mr. McMillan was elected chairman of the conference.

Mr. McMillan then moved the following resolution:—"That this meeting of representatives of local todies i» Taranaki, recognising tne value to the Dominion of hydro-electric schemes fox both Islands, resolves to form a Hydro-elec-tric Isague with the objects of urging rpon the Government the necessity for early and vigorous action in connection with* the proposed 2Jorth Island scheme, and, particulariy, to. nrge the claini3 of Taranaki to be linked np . with the, scheme at the earliest possible opportunity." When the. motion was. seconded, Mr. Clarke suggested that as it wwnld be many years before- Taraaaid' would benefit from the Gorerameatte scheme, an effort sheoM tomartertoindußertiie Government -to proceed*'-with the suggested scheme at tha which was estimated to produce from 6000 to 8000 borao-power, which would give power to' Taranaki mnoh mote <piioldy than tlw big scheme, iofc wMdt cca?!d eventually become a part of the completed .system. He said that as Taranaki wa» thesioost thickly populated country-portion* ofihev Dominion, it must therefore offer the* ■best prospects for payable returns. The* scheme would meet TaranafcTs. require-', raenta for the nexfclOyearsrand wrooll' be a good stand-by for the larger, [ scheme- He belioved the favored the scheme. Mr. Cameron said bo believed scheme 1 suggested by Mr. Clarkeeaß-cgood one, and he 'believed the smaller system was needed to»boosfeupwthe''sn^ly , froin the Government station at Shannon. Mr. Dixon said he hoped nothing of a parochial spirit would be introduced into the proceedings Tie thought they should act in unity and support tbe prosecution of the scheme* for "the-wlwle-of the North Island. At the invitation of the. chairman, ■Mr. Crabbi, a member of the 1 Palmerston North Borough Council, and a member of the Wellington Hydro-electrical League, addressed the meeting. He-said his object in coming was to see tbat tn» interests of the North Island were not dissipated in favor of any parochial s.-Wmes. The Government'* scheme. with generating stations at lhe Mimgabau and the Waikato. would prorido pit the power likely to be ieg,uired in the

North Island for. many years, and that included Taranaki. He said, from conversation with the Minister of Public Works, he knew the Government did not need converting as to the needs of the North Island. Wellington was now in the position of working up to the very limits of its production, and in Wanganui tjiey had had a breakdown recently which hung up their system for some time, while at Palmerston North they wtre anxiously waiting for power. The Government had all the facts as to the requirements, aud the needs were so great that it war, felt something must be Jono immediately. While those urging proceeding with the scheme were as patriotic as anybody, and realised the necessity for prosecuting the war to a speedy, successful issue, they also recognised "it would ho too late to wait till after the war to consider the development of the i country's industries. He considered that pressure should be brought so that the Government would show its hand and do something immediately for North. Island requirements. The'v were not gouig to wait much longer. 'Already the South Island had been given a tenyears' start with its industrial development. It could be left to the engineers to say just where the power should be developed. What they wanted was the power itself. With "regard to the local scheme spoken of, he knew such a scheme was required to boost the big scheme, and he thought it could be taken for granted that the Waitara supply would be developed. It was estimated that if the Government went on with their scheme power would be available within four years.

Mr. Richards said he did not want to see any resolution passed that would tie the hands of the executive of the league about to, be formed, and he moved to amend the motion so as to urge the Government to promote at the earliest possible moment a comprehensive scheme for the development of electrical energy.

Mr. Penn, in seconding the amendment, said the North Island scheme would not bepefit Taranaki for many years and the amendment left the committee free to urge the development of the power from the Waitara as part of the whole scheme, but in such time as would quickly meet the needs of Twanakf.

Mr. Bellringer said that the Government engineer (Mr. Parry) had jointed cut that when the scheme w.u adopted by the Government Taranaki would ue the last place >to be supplied with power, and he lavored it resolution such as suggested by the amendment, which would support the big scheme but at the same time leave the way open for advocating the immediate development of the Waitara source. If Taranaki was (joing to be the bust-paying province, the small sclietae should be at once proceeded with and later linked up -with the main scheme.

Mr. Crump, while recognising the necessity for supporting the Government scheme, also admitted the force of what wis said in relation to the development of the Waitara scheme, and he favored the amendment suggested

Mr. Hunter said it could be taken as settled that the Government was not going to sacrifice the plans it had made, in favor of the development of small local schemes. If they established their system, they would <be sure to serve the best-paying areas at the earliest possible moment.'

Mr.Gow pointed out that if side issues were introduced it would probably prejudice the whole scheme- The trouble with Taranaki was that parochialism had retarded its progress for many years. He hoped the meeting would support the whole scheme. The Department would see the districts which would be the most payable, and see that those districts received the benefits of the scheme at the earliest possible moment. They must push the whole scheme, remembering that the small schemes would be connected up in time. Unless united support was given for the big proposal, tjyj Department would probably sit tight and do nothing for a long time. Mr, Thompson pointed out that as the Government had planned its scheme and was going to carry it out, the position would be somewhat • complicated if, when representations were made to the Cabmet, Auckland and Wellington advocated the big scheme and Taranaki advocated the small scheme.

Voices: No. no! Mr. Thompson, continuing, said that would be the ie3ult so far as he could judge from the trend of the debate. He thought they should support the tig scheme as proposed by the Government. Mr. Morton said ho believed that if Taranaki had to wait for the big scheme the waiting would be lengthy. He asked if the chairman could say that tho scheme known as the North Island scheme also embraced the subsidiary boosting schemes. He favored supporting tha big enterprise, but thought tho smaller schemes should he pushed on as absolutely necessary for the development of the Taranaki district. Mr. Crabb replied that the North Island scheme did embrace the subsidiary schemes, and that took into consideration the needs of Taranaki. The talk about having to wait 20 years was nonsense- If, as stated, the Government scheme could be put into opera- ; toon within four years, it could be taken ' for granted that' tie transmission lines j would be ready in that time to supply j tho power required. Mr. Johns pointed out that tho discussion was developing rather, on the iinj-of ccn.;i-lerinf schemes than on tie "formal ion cf a bngue to promote thfi speedy'< development' of the power rccjnjxf.d. Mr- LyoiL.said.he was. afraid the .small •schemes" would 8, be snowed under initio •ftg-seneme, and?*hethougbt.'the district • dtcul&.rerasniber-ita own interests.-were 'its first interests. The dairy compam'ostfitt power vattd' wexetlosing money for want of it. "He-did BOfr see-'there was-much advantage in -WEfitmg'for'-ptfwer from Watkato virile they haft, streams at their own -doors-'ljy"means-of/which ample*power could}" be dWelopetf. After some further discussion, .the amendment movedHy Mr, Richards was carried. The meeting then proceeded to discuss the-consUtutidn of the-league, and'-the following resolutions were carried:: "(1) The league shall be called the TaranaklHydroHslectric-League. (2) The league shall consist of a president, vicepresident, secretary, and treasurer, a committee of 12, and- ordinary members. 13) Members shall consist of all borough and county councils, town and road boards, harbor boards, chambers of commerce, dairy companies, and all other local bodies, fanners' unions, business concerns, and residents of the Taranaki | provincial district who mav wish to | subscribe- (4) The objects of the lensnia V, be set out bv the first resolution

carried." I The election of officers resulted as fol«*j lows:—President, Mr. J. W. McMillan (Stratford); vice-president, Mr. C. H. ' Burgess (New Plymouth); secretary and',' treasurer, Mr. P. Skoglund (Stratford)} committee, Messrs A. Morton, W. B. Wright, I". W. Grainger, J. B. Murdoch, T- B. Crump, E. Dixon, R. H. Bartley, T. MePhillips, Pearce, Lyon, E. Walter, R. H. Pigott, and G. Young. The annual subscriptions were fixed a<! follows:—Local governing 'bodies, £2 2s each; all others. £1 Is each.

The matter of formulating rules was left to the committee.

The following resolution was then passed for submission to the Government:—"That this meeting of representatives of the various local bodies throughout Taranaki, recognising the big advance in the direction of commercial efficiency that would be secured by ttic establishment of a hydro-electric scheme capable of supplying cheap power I for manufacturing and other commercial : purposes, strongly urges upon the Government the necessity for early and vigorous action in connection with the proposed scheme- for the Xorth Island, and that simultaneously a subsidiary scheme be proceeded with immediately for the benefit of Taranaii." On the motion of the chairman, it wa? resolved to ask every local body in the province to support the league m any representations that might be made to the Government on the question. On the motion of Mr. Penn, a resolution of thanks wis carried to the Mayor and councillors of the Borough of Stratford for convening the conference, and also for the hospitality extended to the delegates. The'motion was carried with acclamation.

The question was then raised as to recommending the committee to support the Bill to be presented to Parliament, giving local bodies power to combine for the carrying out of elc.-irical development schemes for local requirements, but no action was taken in the matter.