HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 April 1921, Page 8

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

PROGRESS LEAGUE DISCUSSION. CRITICISM OF NEW PLYMOUTH. A lengthy discussion took place at yesterday's meeting of the Taranaki Progress League on the question of 'establishing one Power Board to deal with the supply of electricity for the whole qf Taranaki. At the previous meeting of the league it was resolved that it was advisable that steps be taken immediately with a view to setting up one Power Board for the Taranaki provincial district. The secietary (Mr. W. Power) reported that members of the executive had been written to requesting that they forward a report as to the feeling in their particular districts regarding the matter, and the following reports had been received:—Stratford County Council, per Mr. E. Walter, favorable; Hawera Borough Council, per Mr. E. Dixon, favorable. The New Plymouth Borough Council had forwarded a lengthy report in which they considered that the formation of the one Power Board was premature, and would possibly lead to considerable delay. They would also oppose any of the area within their license being included in the Power Board district. Mr. E. Walter>said it seemed to him that the New Plymouth Borough thought they had something good on and were going to keep it for themselves, and instead of joining with the rest of Taranaki, were going to remain on their own. He did not think the farmers would get much electrical power if New Plymouth adhered to its present attitude. Mr. J. B. Richards said a Power Board should be formed immediately, as the longer they delayed the matter the more difficult it would be to form, owing to the number of small vested interests which were likely to spring up and which they would have to cope with.

Mr. W. P. Kirkwood supported this view, and expressed the opinion that every farmer in Taranaki would take the power if he could get it cheaply. Mr. T. McPhillips (Waimate West County) asked if the New Plymouth* scheme could supply sufficient power for the whole of Taranaki.

The chairman: Mr. Birks says so. Mr. McPhillips said he took it that if one Powck, Board was formed for the whole province every farm in Taranaki would be able to get electricity as well as houses in the towns. To him the danger of the smaller districts appeared to be that the farmers might not get the current.

The chairman (Mr. J. W. McMillan) said it appeared that New Plymouth was endeavoring to make contracts for the towns along the line, and the Power Board would have to stop that sort of thing. He*pointed out that Inglewood haff, made a contract with New Plymouth, and was now helpless in the matter. His opinion was that the sale of electrical power in Taranaki should be controlled by one Power Board only. Mr. McPhillips said his district was in sympathy with k the idea of havingone Power Board only, but if small boards werfe going to be formed his district could not avoid doing something for themselves.

Mr. Kirkwodd asked what further ac tion the league could take in the mat-

Mr. Richards: “Get going and promote a petition.” It seemed to him that they might have to cut New Plymouth out, because the petition would have to be signed by not less than onefourth of the ratepayers in each constituent district, and it looked as if it would be impossible to get one-fourth of the New Plymouth ratepayers to sign the petition. The other fly in the ointment was Eltham.

Air. McPhillips thought it would be advisable to get representatives of Eltham, Inglewood and New Plymouth to hold a conference at Stratford.

Mr. R. 11. Pigott (Clifton County) did not think it would be. any use forming one Power Board for Taranaki unless New Plymouth joined in.

Mr. Richards expressed the opinion that the New Plymouth scheme would be insufficient for the requirements of Taranaki. The objective of the Power Board should be to get power from the Government at the cheapest possible price. He understood that eventually Taranaki’s supply) would come from Arapuni. , 1

Mr. Kirkwood pointed .out that even if one-fourth* of the ratepayers signed the petition, the Government still had power to decide whether a Power Board should be formed. Possibly the league could do something by suggesting to the Government that it was undesirable to h&ve more than one Power Board in Taranaki.

Mr. McPhillips asked if it was possible to get New Plymouth to join the Power Board.

Mr. Richards did not think it was necessary to get New Plymouth in if they wished to keep out. If a Power Board was~ formed and New Plymouth had current available the board could purchase it, and at the same time 'secure current from other sources as well. The step was to. form a Power Board, and having formed it the board could conduct its business as it thought was most desirable. Whether it would get its power from New Plymouth or develop other sources would need to be considered. He suggested that a committee be set up to report upon the question of ’forming one Power Board for the whole of Taranaki.

Air. McPhilJips remarked that as New Plymouth was developing only a third of the resources available, would there be any chance of being able, through the Power Board, to develop the remainder of the resources in order to supply their requirements? The chairman: “I don’t think the Government would allow them to stand idle if the people are crying out for power.” ’»•

Mr. Richards’ resolution was amended to read as follows: “That a committee be appointed to report to a future meeting on the question of promotin’* a petition for the purpose of) forming one Power Board for Taranaki, such committee to have legal advice.” The motion was carried, and Messrs. McMillan, Richards, Kirkwood, Wright, and ■£. J. Belcher (Eltham County), were appointed the committee. A committee of two, to be selected by the chairman, was authorise! to attend the conference convened by the Eltham Hydro-Electric League, to be held at Stratford on Monday, for the purpose of placing the views of the kfiffue before that moating.