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HYDRO-ELECTRIC CONTROL.

MEETING OF LOCAL BODIES.

DECISION TO FORM BOARD.

A meeting of local bodies called by the Taranaki Progress League was held at Stratford yesterday to consider the forming of a power board for the distribution of hydro-electricity for Taranaki. Present; Messrs. J. W. McMillan (chairman), W. P. Kirkwood and J. B. Richards (Progress League), E. Dixon, M.P. (Mayor of Hawera), McEwen (Normanby Town Board), J. B. Murdoch, R. J. Linn (Hawera County Council), E. Walter (Stratford County Council), Morgan (Waitara Borough Conntil), R. 11. Cameron (Stratford Borough Council), P. McPhillips (Waimate West (.'aunty Council), Moss (Kaponga Town Board).

I The chairman reviewed, the position in Taranaki regarding hydro-electricity, | and went on to point out the necessity I for one big board for Taranaki. Mr. Richards said Taranaki wanted a big board to handle the project, and the time had arrived when some definite action should be taken. The League thought that the local bodies’ representatives should set to work to form a power board. The method of forming a power board was that every district to be included had to present a petition signed by 25 per cent, of the rate'-' payers. In order to eliminate any suggestion that there had been ioo much Stratford influence in the matter the proposal before them provided that a committee should be set up to manage affairs. Whatever action was taken that day must be definite one way or the other. ONE BOARD OPPOSED. Mr. E. Waiter said, as a member of the Progress League, that they had either to go forward or knock off. If it had not been for the small amount of power New Plymouth was offering for sale there would have been no difficulty in forming a power board. Now everyone was trying to get in on that power first. It would be many years before a Government scheme could be set up. He could not speak for the County Council as he would wish, because ot the very divided opinions on the council. Mr. Murdoch said that if Eltham were going to stick to their scheme of getting their supply 'from New Plymouth, the use of one big. power board w smashed up. It .was not the least use ' the Hawera district supporting the big scheme with Eltham as the dividing lino. Ho moved that the whole, scheme, as set out by the Progress League, be abandoned. It was unfortunate, but until such time as they could get the whole district it was no use forming a power board. Mr. McPhillips said that he was sorry to see a division, but they would quite realise the great difficulty there would ho in forming a power board when the centre of the district was c: <? out. If one board were formed with the going from New Plymouth to Eltham, they would have the two wings, which it would bo a big expense to link up. Ho was always in favor of a large power board, and the only alternative : left was to bring influence to bear on j the Government not to allow the formation of small power hoards until ore . b.'g board was formed and an investiga- ; lion Were made to see if they could r<> ion with u big board. He seconded Mr. ■ Murdoch’s motion pro f»~ma.

j Mr. Dixon said that he had very mu 'h ■doubt whether the Government* would 1 grant Eltham’s request to go on with j their scheme, and if they hung together and eliminated any parochial spirit. G ? i Government might help them. The whole of the local bodies were lookin’ for power, anil not one local body would go to the expense of investigating th? means of getting the power. That wa s the crux of the position. (Hear, hear.' The meeting should set up a committee to investigate the means of getting power, and if they failed the project should be dropped. “BIG SCHEME VISIONARY.” Mr. Moss, said that he represented a district which was looking after the interests of 100 square miles oi country. The Progress Teague was “barking lip the wrong tree.” The power board which was being formed was designated the Eltham Power Board, but everything which had been said at the meeting was applicable to the Eltham Board. It was a board which the other counties could join in, so they had fornmd the nucleus of what they were aiming at now. Th-? Progress League should help to push the Eltham Board. He was talking as an electrical expert. They should take the little power which the Eltham Board could supply them -for the time being. The Progress League’s big scheme was visionary, and the Eltham scheme should be assisted and pushed forward.

j Air. Alurdoeh said they should not disI courage the forming of a board for certain districts, seeing that it was irn- ! possible to form a big board. Mr. AJurdoch’s motion was put to the meeting and lost on a show of hands After the luncheon adjournment. Mr. J. B. Richards moved: “that this meeting decides to join forces with the Taranaki Hydro-Electric League with a view to forming an extended power board district, to include approximate!', Hawera, Waimate West. Eltham. Stratford. Inglewood and Clifton counties and the boroughs thereof, a committee to be set up to give effect to this resolution.” Mr. Walters seconded the motion. The resolution was carried unanimously. It was decided that the committee should bo coipposed of the chairman ot each local body. Mr. AlcAfillan was appointed chairman of the committee, and Mr. W. Power was appointed secretary.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19210901.2.60

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1921, Page 6

Word count
Tapeke kupu
933

HYDRO-ELECTRIC CONTROL. Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1921, Page 6

HYDRO-ELECTRIC CONTROL. Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1921, Page 6

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