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Taranaki Daily News, 11 June 1920, Page 5

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HYDRO-ELECTRIC LIM POSSIBLE TARANAKISCgfI . REPORT TO BE OBTAinfl At a meeting of the ExeoutiH Hydro-Electric League * yestmH Stratford, there were present'?! J. W. McMillan (President), i 9 ' (Stratford County), Davieg «nd*9 (Patea), W. R. Wright ITTn'liii'lW ty>> Piggott (Clifton CctumffiM Murdoch (Hawera County CoqSH the secretary (Mr. P. SkoglundlH Apologies were received fronfjS Lyon (Inglewood), Dixon (H*W4jfl Phillips (Manaia), and BartlejM Plymouth). Messrs Dixon and M lips sent intimations that tbeyvH support any action by the meetlul direction of'securing electricitvli province. *"J The chairman said that -thrql was to devise ways and meant 3 ting reports regarding the bydriH ces o'f the province and deojffll best method of making a lerjnS local bodies interested to pa/ fjl report. New Plymouth, of ooan] decided not to come in, bflinglij| with what they had. If ttoi ifl much power available as contort! Pylmoiith Council the (£3 inent should either take the plan! as a "boosting" station for tbn scheme, or Bee that the requlrenSj the province were adequately mm secretary had again written to tfel ernment electrician (Mr. Birks), KM expected to tisit Taranaki shortly,, ing him to meet representatives oi League while in the district. The M tion had also been made that the-3 bilities of the Tangarakau coalflejl generating power should bt conaid The Minister for Public Wwks (H<l 0. Coatcs) had recently promised* have a geological Burvey made (3 fields, and the Minister had bMBi municated with, reminding hinj'ol promise.

NO GOVERNMENT HELP.'' 9 Mr. Murdoch remarked thjs. League wag a public body, and one of the Government neers ought to oe available to port for the League, ' ' 'jH The secretary said that he bad afl inquiries regarding this position,,. TH found that no Government would be provided; the League ir<B have to get an,outside expert. 19 Mr. Murdoch, in asking for SQ ejfl mate of the cost of an expert's Mflfl pointed out that three or four Jteufl would probably be required to vostigations, and it seemed as if mM cost would be involved. .' |M Mr. Granger said that unless Bunfl was likely to be included it would <IB hardly feasible to supply Patea owinjjn the cost of transmission lines. Tm A member mentioned the fast tiuA *m Hawera Company had a license tor ttnl years for sole rights of supplying tujl territory, and a Power Board mint'l9 be able to sell power in that distrfeKfl The meeting was of opinion that $■ Government could assist the province I putting up the transmission lines, whl could later he utilised in the Nation! scheme. jj, Mr. Wright said the Government rig doing very little for the Power Boarl He spoke oulogistioally of the w« being accomplished in Sou<htan4, wl little Government encouragement ' 7* In regard to the pow,. ,es 'of tfc Wanganui River, which was by Mr. Plggott, the, chairman said t|i Government would no doubt be willii to give information concerning 'th sources there. - ? The chairman estimated that 'tn League would have to reckon on spen&l ing about £SOO. ..| Mr. Wright said, he saw nothing til prevent the establishment of a Power! Board. ] The chairman said he though* the* League was expected to get the report! fli'st; it was not much use forming »l Board before they were cerfcln the'power was available.

' AN URGENT MATTER. ".- j ..Mr. Walter expressed the opinion tttt 1 the Government would provide as engi. t neer to make a report if it wai jJofctSt \ out that a proposed power source was to sight. Regarding the two methods o( generation, he mid they were going i» for hydro power to lessen labor trotAlti, and he was of opinion that the m«thod of producing fuel-generatHl power would probably involve them iu labor disputes. Members generally were of otrinion that the matter of securing electric now. er was urgent, and Mr. Murdoch Mid hat, seeing the cost of the national hydro scheme would be only seven mil* tons, the Government ought tote able to raise the amount.

Mr. Wright: It would pay » bitter dividend than anything eW ' Replying to a question, the secretary soul that, exclusive of New PlynS and Inglewood, there were fifteen local bodies in the province. onded by Mr. Wright, and carried: That thi League ask the local bodfe* to cd" tnbu 8 up to £7OO for the piirpos. "f secunng reports cm power. u2£?£ S as£ o UrdoCh and *• oteiTmw to asic the Government if they would provide transmission lines SaPi satisfactory sourca of supply^'in*

A_ further meeting of tha ExecutlM'ta to be called after the Leamp-. .«» «Jjt«tiv« have confer^T» $£ commg viMt to Tarjnhki.tsttatfaM