POWER SCHEME.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 May 1921, Page 6

POWER SCHEME.

TARANAKI’S NEEDS. THE ELTHAM PROPOSAL. SUPPLY FROM NEW PLYMOUTH. The question of the supply of hydroelectric power for Taranaki was brought before the Inglewood County Council at its meeting yesterday, when letters were received from the Taranaki Progress League, placing before the council a report of the meeting which decide! to form a power district for the whole of Taranaki, and the league asked whether the council would allow a copy of the petition praying for the formation of a ■power district to be taken charge of by the clerk, in order that the ratepayers might sign it, and whether the council would otherwise assist in furthering the petition.

A letter was also received from the Taranaki Hydro-Electric Power District Committee, which was later represented by a deputation comprising Messrs. H. C. Carman (Eltham), G. Sangster (Midhirst), i. R. Anderson (Cardiff) and W. J. Tristram (secretary). They were accompanied by Messrs. F. E. Wilson (Mayor of New Plymouth) and R. H. Bartley (New Plymouth borough electrical engineer).

Mr. Carman stated that the Taranaki Hydro-Electric Committee had been formed at a meeting comprising representatives of the Eltham County, Eltham Borough, Stratford County, Stratford Borough,. Inglewood County, Inglewood Borough, and the various dairy factories within that area. It was proposed to form a power board within the district comprised by the counties and boroughs mentioned, with the Whangamomona County as an outer area. The proposal was not really confined to those districts, as any other district that wished to come in was entitled to do so. They had kept in touch with Mr. Birks, the Government electrical engineer, who advised them to form a strong board with as large a district as possible, and in this they asked the Inglewood County Council's support. The proposal at present was to obtain their current from New Plymouth, where the Borough Council was developing 3000 horse-power, and would have probably 1500 horse-power to spare, and it was proposed to try and utilise the whole of that in the power district. He wished to correct the suggestion that there was any intention of running the power along the railway line. The main feed line would run along the railway line, but lines would radiate from it into the country all -the way down. He pointed out that in a petition from 25 per cent, of the ratepayers a power district would be formed, and the election of a board would take place. The idea of forming a district from Inglewood to Eltham was so as to have a continuous district starting from where the present New* Plymouth district ended. Other districts further north and further south could come in as the outer area, but the idea was to have one board in Taranaki ready to take power when the Government scheme came through. He could tell them that Mr. Birks had informed them that the only available at present was in New Plymouth, and he advised them to go there and get it as soon as possible.

VALUE TO DAIRY FACTORIES.

Mr. T. R. Anderson pointed out that they intended to go on with the formation of the board whether the Inglewood County joined in or not. Tie asked the

council to appoint two delegates at a meeting to be held in Eltham to-day, to fix inner and outer areas. Local knowledge was required for that, as it would be no use including sjieep country in the inner area, as it was expected that settlers in the inner area would link up as soon as the supply was available. He stressed the point that they intended pushing on with the proposal. They had been told that they were rushing in blindly, but as a matter of fact they had been in existence four years. It rested with the power board to decide whether they would buy their power from New Plymouth or prospect for a supply from other sources. He was of Sfcpinion that they would be able to take all the power that New Plymouth could supply, and would then look for more.

Mr. G. Sangster pointed out that the committee was not an Eltham one. He was a representative of a dairy factory on the Inglewood side of Stratford. It was in the dairy factories’ interests to push the matter. As far as he could see, the only source from which power could be got in a reasonable time was New Plymouth, and the whole of the dairy factories should get shoulder to shoulder and get going as soon as possible. In reply to the chairman, Mr. F. E. Wilson said that if they could obtain the money their present scheme would be complete in about 18 months. They would then have about 1500 h.p. to sell outside New Plymouth. The New Plymouth ratepayers, by an overwhelming majority, had given, the council power to increase the rates.

The chairman said that they wanted power and light as quickly as they could get it. He pointed out that the county had already joined the Progress League which he considered the better body to handle the scheme. As far as he could see, there was little difference in the lines on which they were working, save that if the rest of the district did not come in Eltham was determined to step in and get the power available.

NEW PLYMOUTH’S POSITION.

Mr. F. E. Wilson considered that the Progress League were aiming too big, through desiring to bring in the whole of Taranaki. They would start bv antagonising those districts that were already supplied with electricity. He pointed out that a power board could not supply over any district that already had a license. Therefore the board proposed by the Progress League could not supply over the area embraced by the New Plymouth license, extending as far as Inglewood; nof Hawera, which had the south end; nor Opunake, Kaponga, Stratford, Inglewood or Waitara. The best scheme was that proposed by the Taranaki Hydro-Electric League. He wished them to disabuse their minds of the necessity to acquire the works at present in the district. By procuring electricity from the available supplies probably a loan of £200,000 would be required, whereas to acquire the works would run into millions. He pointed out that all were anxious to obtain electricity, and it would be about a quarter of a century before the Goverrfuient power would be available. New Plymouth, he said, did not want to sell its electricity to them; but what prospered Taranaki would prosper New Plymouth, and he considered that they should get their power where it was available to-day. and then await the power from the Government Scheme. Cr. Stewart asked whether it was proJp supply gftttjers along the

roads, or take the supply to the more closely settled districts first.

Mr. Bartley said that the board would deal with the question of distribution. Everyone would be dealt with as equitably as possible, at the same time studying economy. In 'reply to further questions, Mr. Wilson said that the proposal must not be regarded as a town move, as it was really a country move, the committee which met in Eltham for convenience, having up to the present been financed by dairy factories. DELEGATES APPOINTED. In reply to the chairman, Mr. F. E. Wilson said that when fully completed the New Plymouth scheme would develop 9000 horse-power. It was never hoped to supply the whole of Taranaki’s needs. New Plymouth now used 1050 horse-power. Their scheme had outgrown the Waiwakaiho, and they now proposed to store water in the winter for use in the summer. With the growth of Taranaki he thought they might ultimately have a series of dams right up to the mountain. After the deputation had withdrawn the council briefly discussed the matter, and it was decided that the chairman and Cr. Hunter should represent the council at the Eltham meeting.