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Taranaki Daily News, 15 May 1920, Page 4

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY. The chairman of the Egmont County Council on Tuesday remarked that the new loan being raised by the New Plymouth ratepayers for electric light extensions might help the people of the town but not those in the country. The} 7 wanted, he continued, a hydro-electric power board established for the whole of Taranaki, and as far he could see the only available source of supply was tin; Waiwakaiho River. We may state that it is 110 fault of New Plymouth that plans for the supply of current outside are not more advanced than they are today. An agreement was reached months ago with the Inglewood borough to .nipply it with current. Ever since difficulties have been put in the way by the Government, from which the New Plymouth authorities had a right to expect assistance and co operation and not hindrance. Notwithstanding, no time has lieeu lost in going on with the extensions at the headworks. The sum of £40,000 was authorised last year, whilst on Thursday a further loan of £72,000 was authorised. This will provide 3000 horse-power, which, distributed over the 24 hours, actually permits of the sale of double or treble that quantity of current. The borough knows it can find a market for the 3000 horse power, and there is not the slightest doubt that if the rest of Taranaki would only form their power boards and do their share by erecting their own transmission lines and reticulation, or prevail upon the Government to do it as part of the Government's own scheme, New Plymouth would have no hesitation in borrowing the remaining £121,000 necessary to carry out Mr. Blair Mason's scheme in its entirety, providing 9000 horse power, which would suffice for Taranaki until power was obtainable from the Government's own stations in the Waikato. The points we would emphasise are that New Plymouth is developing tlis hydroelectric resources of the Waiwakaiho as fast as it possibly can, that the outlying districts must also do their part if they want the current, and that the "dog-in-the-manger" spirit that has unfortunately actuated some of the outside people in connection wtih the scheme must be dropped if the power is to be made available in the near future, as it can and should be. There should bo plenty of power for all in Taranaki at low rates, and there is no reason why Egmont, Stratford and Ultham should not meet the New Plymouth Council at once and'discuss the question. We have no doubt but that the outcome would be satisfactory to all parties.