HYDRO-ELECTRIC LEAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1920, Page 6

HYDRO-ELECTRIC LEAGUE.

TO MERGE INTO PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE, NEED FOR EXPERT ADVICE. The executive of the Taranaki HydroElectric League decided at a meeting held at Stratford yesterday, to amalgamate with the Taranaki Provincial Progressive League, and to recommend that the latter appoint a sub-committee to deal with the question of electrical power. The Mayor of Stratford (Mr. J. W. McMillan) occupied the chair, and there v .v also present: Messrs. W, R Wright (Egmont, County), E. Walter (Stratford County), J. H. Lyon (Inglewood Comity), R. H. Piggott (Clifton County), 11. G. Carman (Eltham Borough), and P. SJcoglund (secretary*. , The secretary reported that he had | sent notices to local bodies affiliated with the League showing the amount of the contributions due by them, and £351 had been voted. He had, however, asked the local bodies to hold over their contributions in the meantime, because they had no authority to vote the money ex-cept out of unauthorised expenditure, until a Power i Board was actually formed. He read a letter from Mr. Martin, secretary of the Municipal Association, in which Mr. Martin stated that local bodies had no authority to vote money for the League | except as unauthorised expenditure, of I which the limit was £SO. i The secretary stated that lie had written to Mr. R. Masters, M.P., askiug I him to endeavour to have a clause inserted in the Washing-Up Bill giving local bodies authority to vote money for the purpose of investigating the sources of electrical supply, and also, asking him to again bring the matter to the notice of the Minister of Public Works. A letter received from the Minister of Public Works stated that Taranaki had been divided into a number of small power districts, the counties of Stratford, Eltham, Hawera, and Whangamomona with the interior boroughs comprising the Stratford district. Mr. Lyon said that what was wanted was to see if sites existed for the purpose of developing power, and they really needed the services of a oivil engineer more than an electrical engineer for the research work. The chairman replied that the electrical branch of the Public Works Department had a man suitable for the purpose of investigating the resources of Taranaki in regard to electrical supply, i Tlic chief business before the meeting was .to discuss the question of merging into the Taranaki Progressive League, added the chairman. The Progressive League was in favor of admitting the Hydro-Electric League, and he thought if this could be done a sub-committee of the Progressive League could be set up to deal With the question of electrical power. It was irritating for local bodies to have so many requests from different Leagues for subscriptions, and he was in favor of consolidating the smaller leagues into the big Progressive League. ; Mr. T.yon asked if tile Progressive League would get power or leave it to some local body to secure it and distribute it to other local bodies. The chairman: That's one of the questions the Progressive League will decide. What we want is to get a thoroughly qualified man to come and tell us all about the matter. For instance, he might advise us to generate electricity by coal instead of going about the mat- ' ter as New Plymouth is doing. He might criticise the New Plymouth scheme, but we can't do that because we have not got sufficient knowledge of the matter-

Mr. Waller agreed tlmt the expert advice was wanted as early as possible. He suggested that, the legislation enabling local bodies to contribute towards the co>t of a. report should be pushed for at once. The Progressive League could secure the report quite as well as the Hydro-Electric League. , Mr. Wright said he was opposed to amalgamation. He was out to get the power aijd wanted to get it in the quickest way. The best way out of the difficulty was to form an Electric Power Board,-because local bodies could contribute to a Power Board. He wanted to see a proper business board formed without delay so as to get to work. Mr. Walter said the Progressive League could find out. where the power was available, and this should be done before forming a Power Board. The chairman asked Mr. Wright if he favored forming a Power Board straight awayMr. Wright: Yes. Mr. Lyon: And I'm inclined to think 1 its the best thing to do. The chairman: You would then be able to get the money to enable you to make investigations? The secretary: It could be l'aised by striking a rate or raising a loan. In reply to the chairman, the secretary said a Power Board could be formed by obtaining the sanction of the Government. Mr. Walter did n<ft agree with the formation of a Power Board immediately. If local bodies had the power to vote money for the purpose of making investigations, they would probably now know whether sources of supply existed or not. But in submitting the matter to -the ratepayers, the ratepayers would want something definite to bo placed before them. Mr. Wright said a Power Board could be formed on petition by 25 per cent, of the ratepayers. Mr. Carman agreed that tlie information .was necessary before forming the ■Power Board. The chairman moved: "That in the opinion of the executive of the HydroElectric League, the Progressive League should take up the work of this League, and that it be a suggestion to the Progressive League that a sub-committee be set up to deal with the question of electrical power." Mr. Walter seconded the motion. Mr. Piggott said he would like t.o see the present secretary (Mr. Skoglurid) retained as secretary in the future. Mr. SkosJund was an enthusiast and seemed to be the best man to push forwavd the needs of the province in regard to electrical power. . The chairman and Mr. Walter agreed that the services of Mr. Skogluud were too valuable to be lost, and no doubt lie would be asked to join the Praj gressive League. Mr. Wright said he would not oppose the chairman's motion. The motion was then carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr. Wright, it was derided to send a tcl.'<»riim to the Minister of Public Works asking if ho would have a clause inserted in the "W.vsliingUp Bill" legalising exii'nditure, of local Indies in investigating the possible scnrces of supply of electrical power. The balance-sheet showing a credit of £4 9s 6d was adopted, and this amount wa»j'etsi to tb« Moretaiy.