HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1919, Page 6

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

NEEDS OF THE COASTAL DISTRICT. Iho question of hydro-electric supply for the coastal district was touched on at the meeting of the Egmont County Council yesterday, when members stressed the importance of a cheap s.ippl.v of electricity to the dairying industry. The matter was introduced by a letter from the chairman of the Moa Road Hoard, a copy of which had been forwarded to every local body in Taranaki, urging the desirability of concerted action to represent to the Government the importance of the development by the State of liydro-electrie power in the district.

The chairman stated that he bad spoken to Mr. Young, ex-Mayor of Inglewood, who had informed him that tlip borough had made an arrangement with New Plymouth borough to secure power at a figure which, he believed, would be equal to about Id per unit. 110 believed that the only source of power available to the coast within,'say. twenty years was 'the supply from New Plymouth, and he suggested that a depu-tation-from the council should be sent ■to interview the New Plymouth borough eloctrical engineer with a view to ascertaining how much power would be available.

C'r. Sinclair understood that the New Plymouth Borough Council had notified it would bo able to supply the whole of Tnrannki, and he considered that before they approached New Plymouth they should first ascertain what power they required. Afterwards, he thought, thev should form a hydro-electric board. Cr. O'Brien pointed out that Opunake was going in for a scheme, and tiiey should be approached. Cr. Campbell said that, if possible, they should avoid overlapping. He understood that the Opunake scheme would supply over a radius of six miles. Tt might possibly pay Opunake to drop their scheme and obtain their supply from New Plymouth. He thought they should proceed with their enquiries, though he did not wish to interfere with any scheme regarding Opunake town. Cr. Green pointed out that a hydroelectric board, informed, should be representative of the whole coast, as he understood that dairy factories outside the county were also considering the question.

Cr. Sinclair said that was his idea. Cr. Young said that if electricity could be obtained reasonably every dairy factory along the coast would instal it, as wood was now very scarcp and the cost of coal prohibitive. The chairman said that if the ladies could see what was being done by electricity m the farm houses of the 'Taitapu district it would not 'be 21 hours before a start was made with a scheme to .supply electricity along the coast. On the motion of Crs. Sinclair and O'lirien. it was resolved that the chairman, Crs. Young and Campbell be appointed a committee to wait on the New Plymouth electrical engineer. Cr. Green said that it was essential in (lie interests of the dairyins: industry that they should push on with a scheme for the supply of electrical power.