POWER SCHEME.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 May 1921, Page 5

POWER SCHEME.

PLANS FOR TARANAKI.

SMALLER BOARD FAVORED.

PROGRESS LEAGUE’S SCHEME REJECTED.

FAITH IN WAIWAKAIHO.

A further meeting of the committee which was set up as -Ulf? outcome of the, proposal of the Eltham Hydro-electric Committee to form a power board for the Counties of Eltham, Stratford, Inglewood and Whangamomoua, and boroughs lying therein, was held at Eltham yesterday for the purpose of considering what steps should be taken in the direction of arriving at an agreement with the Taranaki Progress League, which is advocating a provincial power board as against the smaller board.

The following members were present: Messrs. C. J. Belcher (chairman), C. H. White, J. Fearon, C. E. McGuinness, H. D. Forsyth, F. Ranford, T. R. Anderson, W. H. Were and G. Sangster. Mr. R. H. Bartley .(New Plymouth electrical engineer) was also present. After a full discussion the following resolution, was carried:—“This committee offers no objection to any other district in Taranaki joining the proposed power district in terms of the Act.” At a later stage Messrs. J. W. McMillan and J. B. Richards, as representatives of the Taranaki Progress League, attended the meeting. The chairman explained that he had sat on the executive of the Eltham Hydro-electric League and the Progress League, and he had found it impossible to do justice to both leagues, so he liad sent his resignation in to the Progress League, he preferring to remain on the hydro-electric committee, of which he had been a member long before the Progress League was thought of. The chairman then communicated the resolution to the deputation.

DELAY OPPOSED.

Mr. McMillan said the Progress League had nothing further to put forward in addition to what had been previously said. Mr. Richards said the main idea was for the two organisations to get together, and that seemed the best way to go about it now. They should join forces and get a power board formed covering a wide area. Mr. Richards added that the Hawera and Clifton County Councils had passed resolutions in favor of the big board, so practically all the province, except Taranaki County and New Plymouth Borough could be brought into the larger scheme. He suggested that in order to get the matter properly settled a conference of everyone interested should be called in order to form as big d power board as was possible. The chairman said another conference might mean delay, and the committee wanted to get to work. There seemed to be an idea prevalent that the Eltham hydro-electric committee had jumped the claim of the Progress League, but that was not the case. The Eltham League had been at work for at least five years, and after the conference at Stratford the Eltham Hydro-electric League went out and a Taranaki hydroelectric committee was formed in its place. The committee believed the best way to get to work was to form the smaller board and add other districts as they wished to come in. Personally he could not see that another big conference would do any good. Mr. McMillan said that if they established the smaller board there was not much chance of other districts wanting to come in, because the board would have nothing to offer them

A DEFINITE PROPOSAL.

Mr. Carman: What would the Progress League have to offer? Mr. McMillan replied that the Progress League wanted the larger board because it would be in a position to develop other sources of supply. Mr. Carman said the smaller board proposed to make use of the surplus power that New Plymouth had available, and as regards developing other sources of supply the board could do that just the same as the large board. If Taranaki or Clifton Counties, or any other districts, wished to come into the district, the power board could not stop them doing so. The committee had a definite proposal to offer, but the progress League apparently had nothing to offer except to say that a competent engineer would be employed to go into the question. Mr. Richards contended that the committee had distinct opposition from Inglewood and Stratford, which were two portions of the proposed district. He believed that if a power board was formed, comprising Clifton, Inglewood, Stratford, Eltham, Hawera and Waimate West Counties, they would then have a power board sufficiently comprehensive and powerful to be able to develop other sources of supply. He emphasised that neither himself nor the Progress League had ever suggested that New Plymouth should be deprived of its hydro-electric scheme. With reference to the last conference at Stratford, he reminded the meeting that the chief representatives present of the local bodies concerned were opposed to the proposal. . Mr. McMillan: If the large board is formed it is quite feasible that the first district to be linked up will be the district which the committee proposes. _ Mr. Sangster: Is anything to be gained from the large board? Mr. Richards: You would be starting " Mr. Sangster: What’s the use when you have not got the power to offer the farmers ?

SUPPORT FOR ELTHAM SCHEME.

Mr. Fearon said it seemed that the chief obstacle to progress was the Progress League, which had decided to oppose the committee without having Anything to offer them. He thought the committee should push ahead m spite of the Progress League. . Some discussion took place at tins stage on the question of who got in first in regard to hydro-electneal Djatters, Mr. Fearon remarking that the hltham committee had apparently woke up the Progress League. This drew a spirited defence from Mr. Richards, who explained that the Progress League had not been Influenced in its efforts by what the Eltham committee had. been Mr Anderson contended that the committee did not have opposition in either Inglewood ol Hawera, and he denied that the Stratford County ratepayers were opposed to the scheme. He had diiguiStd th« matter with ratepayers in

all parts of the county, excepting Douglas, and all had urged him to go ahead with the scheme. Mr. Sangster said he did not think there was any room for differences of opinion. The farmers wanted the power and the power board should be formed as soon as possible. He was fully con-

vinced that the Waiwakaiho would be able to supply all the power that would be required for the next ten years. Mr. F. Ranford said he was personally in favor of a big power board, but he could not see how the Progress was going to get them the power any quicker. After further desultory discussion Mr. McMillan said he would convey the decision of the committee to the members of the Progress League at a meeting to be called.