HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 June 1921, Page 5

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

DISCUSSED BY TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL. LOOKING TO NEW PLYMOUTH. The question of hydro-electric supply for thp Taranaki County was briefly discussed at yesterday’s meeting of the Taranaki County Council. The matter arose from a letter from the Taranaki Hydro-Electric Power District, notifying that the committee offered no objection to any portion of Taranaki joining the proposed power district, which included the counties of Eltham, Stratford, Wfaangamomona and Inglewood, and the boroughs lying therein. They therefore asked to be advised if there was any desire on the part of the county to join the proposed district. The chairman pointed out that the Taranaki County, as far as the Stony ■River, was now included in the New Plymouth Borough license. He had been assured by the Mayor and borough engineer that they recognised it was their duty to supply the area within their license with power as soon as they possibly could, but at the same time he thought they should pass a resolution to the effect that the county was, desirous of having the advantage of hydro-elec-tricity as soon as the power was available. They knew that the New Plymouth Borough was arranging to supply power to adjacent local bodies, and there was a possibility that these might be supplied before the ratepayers in their own district. There was no need to join the Taranaki Hydro-Electric District, as the bulk of the county was embraced in the borough scheme. As regards the portion of the county beyond the Stony River, he pointed out that it was not the policy of the Government to allow small areas to be excluded, and this would probably be included in the New Plymouth district.

Cr. Wooldridge said the people in the Warea district were anxious to join up with New Plymouth, but there was a feeling that that end of the county would be ignored and the current supplied down the line. It was proposed to have delegates from New Plymouth attend the factory meeting. Cr. Vickers said he thought New Plymouth Borough was anxious to give the settlers of Taranaki first consideration. On the motion of Crs. Vickers and Morton it was resolved that the Borough Council be asked for an assurance for a supply of electric power within the area governed by their license.

It was also resolved to inform the Taranaki Electric Power District that the council being within the area governed by the New Plymouth license, they purposed obtaining their power from that source.