POWER SCHEME.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1921, Page 5

POWER SCHEME.

A FORWARD MOVE. POWER BOARD TO BE FORMED. ELTHAM-STRATFORD-INCfLEWOOD DISTRICT. An important, conference of delegates from dairy factories, county councils, borough councils and town boards within the area comprised in the Eltham, Stratford, Inglewood and Whangamomona County Councils and interior boroughs was held in the Stratford Borough Council chambers yesterday morning to consider a proposaLfrom the Eltham Hydro-electric League that a power board be formed for the districts concerned.

The following delegates were present when the meeting opened, a few others coming in later:—Dairy factories: Eltham, Messrs. Knuckey, White and Carter; Mangatoki, Messrs. Marx and Anderson; Kaponga, Messrs. Bently, Pollard and Thoumine; Lowgarth, Messrs. Johnson, Williams and Fearon; Ngaere, Mr. Morrison; Cardiff, Mr. J. T. Belcher; Te Popo, Messrs. King and Knox; Midhirst, Messrs. Sangster and Bowman; Kaimata, Messrs. Bocock and Johnston. County Councils: Eltham, Messrs. Barker, McGuinness and Campbell; Stratford, Mr. E. Walter; Inglewood, Mr. A. Cork ill. Borough Councils: Stratford, Messrs. Hunter, McMillan and Cameron; Eltham, Messrs. Cameron and Bridger; Kaponga Town Board, Messrs. Cook’ Law and Moss and Mr. W. J. Tristram (secretary). Messrs. F. T. Bellringer and R. H. Bartley (New Plymouth Borough) were also present. Messrs. Walter and Corkill explained that they were present there only to hear what was said, as they had no authority from their respective county councils to vote upon,any proposal. Mr. Corkill added that he thought the matter should have been taken up by the Taranaki Progress League. DEMAND FOR POWER. Mr. Belcher, speaking as chairman of the Eltham Hydro-electric League, which had convened the conference, stated that the conference had been called in his absence and he Was in a peculiar position, inasmuch as Mr. Corkill said the Progress League was the right body to take the matter up, and he (Mr. Belcher) was also a member of that league. But he took it that all who were present were chiefly interested in getting electric power and did not mind how or where they got it, provided they could obtain the power. He asked that the meeting appoint a chairman. On the motion of Mr. Marx. Mr. Belcher was voted to the chair.

Mr. H. C. Cayman (Eltham Borough) moved: “That a power board be formed to include the counties of Eltham, Stratford, Whangamomona and Inglewood and boroughs and town districts lying therein.” Speaking to the motion, Mr. Carman said that he proposed it merely to give the meeting something to work on and he would not object to it being altered if the meeting so desired. After detailing briefly the reasons for the formation of the Eltham Hydro-electric League, he stated that the Eltham Borough representatives were looking at the matter not from a parochial view but in the interests of the whole district concerned. Regarding the New Plymouth scheme, when the Eltham delegates inspected it recently, the engineer (Mr. Blair Mason) had stated that he would guarantee to develop 6000 h.p. and probably 9000 h.p. It had been suggested that a power board should be formed for the whole of Taranaki and this would be alright if New Plymouth joined them or if the Government had the power available. But the New Plymouth Borough had definitely decided not to hand over their scheme to a power board and the Government would not force them to do so. Thai; settled the idea of a provincial power board, unless a board was formed excluding New Plymouth. HINT OF BENZINE FAMINE. What his resolution proposed was to start where New Plymouth left off, taking in the Inglewood County and leaving out Opunake, which had already decided to form a power board. Mr. Birks’ proposal wae to make Wliangamomona an outer area, not liable for rating and not represented on the board to be formed, but which could by taking a poll come in as part of the board when the transmission lines were extended there. Mr. Birks was very keen on getting the power and getting it as soon as possible. At the Eltham meeting Mr. Birks had stated that there was a big possibility almost at once of the export of benzine being prohibited by America owing to the quantity used in America, and the sooner they got the electricity to the farms the better, because they did not know when their supply of benzine would be cut off. Mr. Birks had added that the only other form of power available for the farmers was electricity and the best source of supply was the New Plymouth scheme. Regarding the Government scheme, Mr. Birks had stated that the Government proposed to spend £22,000,000 and it would be 20 years or more before the power reached Taranaki. Mr. I. J. Bridger (Eltham Borough) seconded. NEW PLYMOUTH SCHEME. Mr. F. T. Bellringer (general manager of the New Plymouth Borough) said that the New Plymouth) people were in favor of the formation of the smaller power boards as against the larger boards, their main reasons being that with the partial scheme New Plymouth would have approximately 1500 h.p. to dispose of and could supply a small power district but not the whole of Taranaki for some years to come. If the smaller power boards were formed they would not have much delay and could get right to work with providing means for the distribution of that 1000 h.p., but if they formed a large power board they would find themselves up against difficulties. The first difficulty woud be the taking over of the New Plymouth scheme, which New Plymouth was against them doing, and secondly the taking over of the Hawera Electric Light Company's plant, which the South Taranaki people proposed to, do, aifil while they were coping with these difficulties there would be considerable delays. Mr. Bellringer denied the allegations that Naw Plymouth was acting the part of the dog in the manger and that they were out to profiteer on the rest of Taranaki. He explained that as the price at which New Plymouth was allowed to sell the power was fixed by the Government, there was no possibility of any profiteering; the larger including the amount already

spent, was estimated to cost £492,000, and according to figures which had been before the ratepayers at various times the estimated profit on this expenditure was only £8,177, which showed they were not out to profiteer on the rest of Taranaki. REASONS FOR DELAY. Mr. Bellringer explained that New Plymouth did not want to hand their scheme over to the powei board when the scheme was only partially completed, but the question of taking over the works could be considered at a later date. Explaining the big cost of the scheme, Mr. Bellringer stated, that many delays had occurred, but if these delays had not occurred he felt sure New Plymouth would be able to supply the power to-day. The delays were not due, to the fault of New Plymouth. The engineers had estimated that the date the completion of the partial scheme would be eighteen months, or possibly less if they could get the money they wanted. Air. Bellringer then explained the steps which had been taken in order to raise the loan for the completion of the partial scheme, and said he did not think there was any chance of the works closing down. A poll of the ratepayers would be taken on April 27 in order to get authority to borrow the money at 0% or 7 per cent, and he did not think there would be any difficulty as regards getting that consent. / Mr. Marx (Mangatoki) said that the success of the proposal depends upon certain areas coming in and as there appeared some possibility of file whole of the area not coming in, it seemed to him to be advisable to vary the terms of the resolution if they were going to do any good at all. He was in favor of the area mentioned in the resolution and to get the power from the best available sources. He did not want to havfe a power board formed which would only mark time. So far as he could see Taranaki was going to be the last place to. benefit under the Government scheme, and in view of the possible benzine famiffe they should get right on the job without delay. BIG SCHEME FAVORED.

Mr. J. W. McMillan (Majtor of Stratford) referred to the existence of the Taranaki Hydro-electric League, which had later merged with the Taranaki Progress League, and explained that the Eltham Hydro-electric League had also been invited to join the Progress League, but had declined to do so. He knew that New Plymouth would not come into a provincial power board, but that did not mean that they could not get along without New Plymouth, because he believed the provincial board could buy power from New Plymouth the same as the smaller boards. He did not like the small boards, as he believed thqy would do the best for their own districts and not worry much about the rest of tne province. The provincial board would look after the interests of the whole province and would be out to get the Government scheme through as soon as possible. He supported the big scheme and, in his opinion, if the resolution was carried that day it would not carry much weight, because many of those present did not have the power to vote on it. Mr. E. Walter (chairman of the Stratford County Council) said he was in much the same position as the borough representatives, as his council had not yet received the letter convening the meeting and he had come of his own accord Speaking of the New Plymouth scheme, he said that all New Plymouth could proinise was 1500 h.p., which was insufficient for the whole of Taranaki and meant that the places along the main transmission lines would get the power and the dairy farmers would go without. He recognised that New Plymouth was only a borough and not a very big one at that and a loan of four or five hundred thousand was too big for it. He believed that the whole province should take over the New Plymouth scheme and develop it, paying New Plymouth for what had been done. Mr. Bellringer replied that New Plymouth was only developing its scheme as it was required, and had they gone on with the big scheme it would have been several years before the output could be sold and in the meantime they would have to find the interest on £500,000, with very little revenue coming in. As time went on the scheme would be extended as the power was required.

NEW PLYMOUTH’S POSSIBILITIES. Mr. Walter: It’s all wanted to-day. Mr. Bellringer: “Yes its all wanted, but we have not got the means of distributing it yet.” Continuing, Mr. Bellringer said that Mr Birks was in favor of the large power distict but when the difficulties were explained to him he advised them at Eltham to go on with the formation of a smaller power board, and later at Opunake he said that he would make a condition that upon the formation of a provincial power board all the smaller boards would be merged into it. As regards waiting until the Government could supply the power he thought Mr. Birks had convinced them that it was useless waiting till that scheme was developed. Replying to Mr. McMillan, Mr. Bellringer said New lymouth intended to develop its big scheme only in parts Mr. Moss ((Kaponga Town Board) referred to what was__being done in the Kaponga district and expressed the opinion that gome of the districts mentioned in the resolution would be able to supply themselves current. Mr. G. Sangster (Midhirst Dairy Co.) considered that the proper thing for the meeting to do was to get going and form a power board. He was sorry that Messrs. McMillan and Walter had not visited New Plymouth and inspected the scheme as he had had his eyes opened as to the wonderful possibilities of that scheme. As far as he could see if they were going to get any power at all it would have to come from New Plymouth, and his opinion was that in the interests of the dairy industry steps should be taken to form a power board and get to work. Mr. A. Campbell (Eltham County) asked what would be the rate they would have to pay if they formed a power board and helped New Plymouth to.develop the big scheme. Mr. Bellringer replied that New Plymouth was not asking for any help in raising the money for developing the scheme. New Plymouth was merely going to sell the power to the board at a price fixed by the Government and the local bodies would not have to pay anything more than that. COSTS ENTAILED. In reply to Mr. Marx, Mr. Bellringer said that the power board would have to raise a loan for the erection of transmission lines, etc, and the first year a interest could be paid out of the amount of the loan. At the end of that time they might be in a position to sell the power. Mr R. H. Bartley (New Plymouth

electrical engineer) said that afthougli the price fixed was £l2 per h.p. per an-< num, that power could be sold several x times' over during the 24 hour® of each? day and would really be much cheaper.; Mr. Bellringer explained that New Plymouth had developed 2000 h.p. iii addition to the former supply of 1000 h.p., making 3000 h.p. It was tfio intention of New Plymouth to develop the remainder of the 6000 h.p. as the demand increased. Mr. Marx moved the following amend- x merit: “That the proposal be modified by steps being taken to form a power board for the area comprised in the Eltham county and borough and such neighboring areas in the proposed original resolution as will bring the capital value of the total area up to £5,000,000.” This was seconded by Mr. Moss. Mr. Bartley pointed out that the 1500 b.p. would be ample to supply requirements until the larger scheme was ready. Air. Anderson remarked that Air. Birks had stated that if a power board was formed they could not use more power than New Plymouth could supply. In repty to Mr. Cook (Kaponga), Mr Bartley said the approximate cost oi transmission lines using iron bark polet and copper wires was £5OO per mile anc liepreciation should be taken at not lest per cent. FIRST STEPS TAKEN. Mr. McGuinness asked whether ig. event of the amendment being carried would that boaid have power to carry lines through districts not in the power board.

Mr. Bellringer said it wks provided that a power board could carry the transmission lines through any district, but could not sell in any district not under the control of the power board. Air. Carman asked Mr. Marx to with* draw the amendment, stating that in the event of the motion being defeated it was the intention of the league to ”3c exactly what the amendment proposed. Eltham wanted power and was going to ght it from New Plymouth. Mr. Marx agreed to withdraw hie resolution, but stated that he wanted to see something definite done at once Mr. Carman, replying to the statement that 1500 h.p. would be insufficient and would be absorbed by the towns, witl the result that the farmers would get very little, said that this was not so, a« the dairy factories and the farmers would get the bulk of the power on ac- . count of most of the towns already ing power. fl On the chairman announcing that resolution jvould be put to the the Stratford Borough delegates Messrs. Walter and Corkill left meeting. The motion was unanimously. Messrs. Belcher (chairman), son. Sangster, Fearon, White, and Tristram (secretary) were ed a committee with power to take steps in regard to tions amongst the ratepayers in tricts in the proposed power