ELTHAM.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 January 1921, Page 7

ELTHAM.

Front Our Own Correspondent.) At the meeting of shopkeeper? convened for the purpose of arranging the hours for opening shops in Eltham, Mr. Bridger suggested that the hours for closing be -5.15 pm. on Monday, (Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 12 ofclock ion Thursday, and 8.30 p.m. on SaturIday, in order to conform with the new f‘Act. • Mr. Fitzgerald held that the Act did not alter the hour? during which shops may be open, but'it with the working hours of employees, and Mr. Carman supported this view. Mr. -Wilkinson expressed & d'nfbt as to whether the Act merely dealt with the hours worked by ehop aeaistants or covered the number of hours shops might remain open. He suggested they should obtain an opinion on this'point before any resolution was carried. . Mr. Stuptoy' moved that the question be left over until the conference of Chambers of Commerce had discussed tne subject. ? It was eventually agreed that the resolution of the previous meeting be proceeded with: “That the closing hours agreed to be fixed by requisition.” The hydro-electric scheme came under discussion, and Mr. Carman explained that New Plymouth could not obtain definite estimates of the cost, and' were experiencing difficulty in raising the money. They had abandoned their proposal to erect transmission lines through to Eltham, and now suggested that users of power should erect the lines from Inglewood- In his opinion there was little chance of the scheme being carried through by New Plymouth. The local committee was considering the question of obtaining a further report on the possibility of obtaining power from the Patea River. Mr. Wilkinson said that the town was severely handicapped by lack of electric power, and it would pay Eltham to use the Diesel engine if sufficient water power was not available. The Hon. W. Carncross stated that about £2oo*o had been expended by private firms in Eltham on the installation of electric plants, and each new private installation put in would help to postpone the organisation of th* borough supply. It was resolveJ*- “That Mr. Holder, on behalf of the Fleeting, write to th?Borough Council requesting the council to obtain a report on the suitability of a Diesel plant for the generation o? electric light and power and an estimate of the cost.”