HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1921, Page 4

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

COMPLAINT BY COUNTY COUNCIL. STRATFORD NOT SATISFIED. There was a short discussion at Saturday's meeting of the Stratford County Council in regard to the allocation of power licenses. Cr. C. R. Anderson said that it was reported that the Stratford Borough Council held the sole rights for supplying electric current to the county. Councillors believed that the borough council had not the sole rights and he asked the chairman to explain the position. The chairman (Mr. E. Walter) said the report that the borough had the rights for the county was correct, but they had not the sole rights. Any other local body could be admitted, but could not erect poles, etc., without the consent of the Borough Council. Ur. Anderson: “According to your ruling the Power Board cannot operate in this area.” Cr. Walter: “I don't believe they can without the consent of the Borough Council.” Cr. Anderson said that in that case the whole council should resign. It was going to set up a controversy between town and country. He thought if the chairman’s ruling came to a point rof law it would be found to be incorrect. He asked if the council was taking any action to ascertain the position! Cr. Walter agreed that it was a ridiculous position, and that legislation should be brought doVrn to grant the Power Board the right to supply the county if the present license-holders were * unable to supply the required power. Cr. Thomas said that the position was that, the Power Board could not sell power without the consent of the Borough Council. The matter was dropped at this juncture, councillors expressing a desire to peruse the Borough Council’s license to ascertain the exact position.