HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1919, Page 5

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

NEW PLYMOUTH'S SCHEME. DISCUSSED AT STRATFORD. At the meeting of the Stratford Borough Council on Monday evening the Question of supplying the borough with electric light and power was discussed at length, Including a proposal to increase the price of power, it being suited thnt the Council for some time past hud been selling its power cheaper than it was beiug generated. Cr. Cameron, after remarking that the bal-ance-shoot was rather gloomy, said that the cost of production per unit was Gd, and out of all proportion to what H should bp, and cren if they did better next year with the next plant, which would cost a }£d a unit to run, they would be in a very bad state, and would have to either Increase the price or reduce the expenditure, adding, that if they could not do better, they would have to go elsewhere, and keep the present plant as ii stand-by. He suggested that the Lighting Committee should negotiate with the New Plymouth Council and ascertain If they could supply Stratford at less than 2d per unit, and thus increase the Council's sales. At one time he was opposed to negotiating with New Plymouth because he thought Stratford could produce the current cheaper than had been thg case. The Mayor remarked that If the production was no better than the present figures, it ■was about time the Council wiped it out. Tho Lighting Committee recommended Increasing tiie price for power and heating to 4d per unit, the average generating cost being 5%d per unit Sold,'as the Council was losing heavily by selling at 3d, and thut for milking machines the charge be £ls per year, as against the Government charge 0f,£21. On the motion of the Mayor, the Public Works Department, is to be asked for permission to increase the price of power to AJ7 per h.p. per annum. Cr. Cameron then moved that the committee obtain a quotation from New Plymouth for power for Stratford, remarking that even If a supply could not be obtained from thut Bource for three years or more, it would be considerably langor before tho Government scheme was available. Thero would be an increase in the consumption from Waipuku to Stratford, which would go a long way to i pay wages, etc. , In aocondlng the motion, the Mayor (Mr. I J \\\ McMillan) considered it would be a step iin tho right direction. He bellev.ed New Ply- ; mouth had power for the whole of ri'art- : nakl, and he would like to see them approach the matter in that light, so that, the whole province would benefit. Thero was a feeling that Now Plymouth was working for its own benefit, but, if tho question was taßen up, the outside districts might possibly persuade New Plymouth to see it. in a broad light. Every local body appeared to be working In Its own interest. Inglewood seemed quite satisfied with the agreement with New Plymouth. Eltham was working Independently, but he considered they should all act together and they would get better treatment than by acting separately. The New Plymouth scheme was tne Beat proposition for the near future, and the Council should approach New Plymouth for the supply of bulk current. Cr. Hunter said it seemed New Plymouth did not know exactly what they could do In tho supply of current. Tho Government official were of opinion that New Plymouth did not have from "MOOD to 8000-h.p. and would not have anything ' to do with it. The Government scheme would be tho best for Stratford. The transmission of high tension power was a problem, and they tnuld find tho cost so great that they would never tacklo It. Cr. Cameron pointed out that tho Government official (Mr. Kissell) did not inspect tho present schemo of Now Plymouth's storage of water on 1000 acres, and probably that was why the Government doubted the large supply. Councillors should sink their pride and Ask New Plymouth again. The motion to again approach Now Plymouth was then carried.