The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 1921. AN UNWISE DECISION.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 1921. AN UNWISE DECISION.

The New Plymouth Borough Council lias again rejected the proposal to have a survey made of the country above the new hydro-electric works in order to ascertain if further power can be obtained there in the future before the concreting of No. 2 tunnel is proceeded with. The reason given for its adherence to a decision which, we are sure, will be deplored by all who are conversant with the position, is so transparent that it will not stand examination. Indeed, one would almost be justified in declaring that the reason advanced is only meanlt to be camouflage. The motion was moved by the Mayor himself, who has all along set himself against the suggested survey, as well as against any recommendation made by the engineers or the borough manager. It did not matter to him that some of the leading ratepayers of the town were strongly in favor of the survey, for reasons that were put forward fully on the occasions the two deputations met the council, or that it had the support of engineers outside of the consulting engineers and the council’s chief executive officer. The Mayor had obviously made up his mind to resist the suggestions regardless of all consequences. Let us look at his motion: — "That having regard to the fact that the council is carrying out a scheme approved, by the ratepayers, which it deems expedient to bring to fruition . as soon as possible, the deputation be informed that the council cannot un- ' dertake this result.”

AU will agree that it is desirable to bring the scheme to fruition as soon as possible, but it has been shown that a trial survey, if put in hand immediately, would entail no delay whatever. The council should know this. If it is so anxious to expedite the work how comes it that at the same meeting a report was read from the resident engineer complaining of the delay that may shortly be occasioned through the council’s neglect in not before this obtaining the rights over the private land through which No. 2 tunnql is to go? The engineer shows that, in order to carry on, it will soon be necessary to drive the tunnel under the property without the owner’s consent, and that it will also mean carrying on at a point where this cannot be done so economically as from the central headings. At present there

is only one head being worked. Naturally the engineer desires to expedite operations by working from several heads. To do this rights over the ground have to be obtained. The council has been aware of this position for some months. Why, therefore, has it not moved before, and obtained these rights? Who is to blame for the delay? The fact is that if these heads were .put in, the excavating work could proceed expeditiously, and the concreting could be done iater. Thus the work would not. be hung up in any way by making the suggested survey, so the assumption that the main work of the scheme ■would he delayed has no justification whatever. The Mayor said, in the course of his brief remarks, that “he was afraid we were going to overload the scheme, so that instead of it being a financial success it was going to prove a millstone.” On what ground does he make this assertion? Evidently he has entirely altered his opinion of the value of the hydroelectric works during the past three months, for it was at his installation in April that he said: “Owing to the development of hydro-electric power, I believe New Plymouth may eventually be a rate free town.” It will be seen that he went much further on that occasion than most people would have eared to. Not only was it a profitable business, but it would, in his opinion, free the town later from the payment of rates. This statement, and that given on Monday evening, that the hydroelectric works would prove a millstone around the necks of ratepayers, are entirely contradictory and irreconcilable. What has caused the Mayor in so short a time to change his supremely optimistic view to one so markedly pessimistic? It only goes to show that on this matter at least the Mayor is not a very sure guide, and that he is impervious to reason, while allowing his prejudices, or capripe, to cloud his judgment in a matter of very considerable importance to the town. What was asked by the deputations was quite, fair and reasonable, and manifestly in the best interests of the borough, for so much depends upon it. The borough is committed to the development of the hydro-electric, resources, and must go on with the development. If it feels the undertaking is too big and onerous, then it would /have little difficulty in transferring its burden to other which . are very anxious to assume it. But, if we interpret their wishes correctly, there is no inclination On the part of ratepayers to transfer the responsibility, but to go on with the work as energetically as possible and make it thoroughly successful. They realise that it is not likely to prove a millstone but a

big asset to the town and district, and one that they should safeguard and develop. The position now is that the council will not be able to further negotiate with Messrs Summerson and Sons for power in connection with the projected electric smelting they are anxious to establish in New Plymouth, for the reason that the council believes the present works when fully carried out, will only develop 6000 h.p. and not the 9000 estimated by the consulting engineers. The survey would definitely settle the question whether additional power could, or could not, be secured, and, if the power said to be latent there could be generated profitably the council would be in a position to deal with the Home firm. The expenditure entailed in making the survey would be only a few hundred pounds and the time about three months at the utmost. During this period the work at the tunnel could proceed as usual, as we have pointed out. But the majority of the council will have npne of it, and evidently are not

impressed with the importance of the issue. What are the ratepayers going to do about it ? Take it lying down, or otherwise? The Mayor and those who voted with him appear to have forgotten that they are the trustees for the ratepayers and are morally bound to do what is best for the interests of their constituents. They are assuming a policy that savors more of resentment at being well advised than of advancing the best interests of the borough.