HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1921, Page 8

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

! LOCAL BODIES AMALGAMATE/ ?? / MEETING AT ELT HAM A meeting of the Taranaki hydroelectric committee and delegates from the local bodies which were represented at the recent meeting in Stratford was held at Eltham yesterday for the purpose of forming a power board for the supply of electric power to the disI tricts represented. I The following members of the Tara- ■ naki hydro-electric committee were pre- | sent:—Messrs. C. J. Belcher (chairman), H. D. Forsyth, W. 11. Were, C. H. White, E Hanford, T. R. Anderson, C. E McGuinness, G. Sangster, R. G. Carman, J. Fearon, the secretary (Mr. W. J. Tristram), and the committee’s legal adviser (Mr. J. L. Weir). The New Plymouth borough electrical engineer (Air. Bartley) was also present. The following delegates from local bodies wero present: —Messrs. J. AV. McMillan (Progress League), R. H. Cameron (Stratford Borough Council), E. Walter (Stratford County Council), A. Corkill (Inglewood County Council), T. McPhillips (Waimate West County Council), R. Morgan (Waitara Borough Council), A. E. McEwen (Normanby Town Board), A. E. Moss (Kaponga Town Board). and Lewis (Hawera Borough Council). The chairman (Mr. Belcher) said that the Taranaki Hydro-Electric Committee had got a good way advanced, and when thev saw the resolution passed at Stratford they thought it would be a good thing to get together.

SUPPORT FOR ONE BOARD. Air. McMillan said that, a meeting of local bodies was called by the Taranaki Progress League, which had carried a resolution desiring to join the Taranaki hydro-electric committee. They wanted the committee’s power board to take the outlying districts into its power board. It was thought better that there should be one. instead of two power boards. The various bodies concerned were prepared to put up the necessary finance. There was other power in the district than that procurable at New Plymouth just waiting to be developed. Mr, Taylor spoke in support of a big power board, It should be understood that when the power was found all parts should be" supplied with power at the same rate per unit. Mr. McPhillips, speaking in support of one big board, said that they would want, to know, if the big board was formed, if they were all going to get the current at one and the same time Messrs. Walter, Canuron, Corkill. and McEwen all spoke in favor of one bi" board, it being pointed out- that one big board would be much better able to investigate the sources of supply, and that the power at New Plymouth would not be sufficient to supply all the pro-

vince. Air. Forsyth said that New Plymouth could give them a start, but they would have to find additional power to supplement the New Plymouth supply. Power would bo sure to be supplied to every part of the district at the same ra t-e. Str. Belcher paid that when a power board was formed it was the end of the hydro-electric committee. That was the idea There had never been any objection to take other parts of the province in. The outer areas were not liable to taxation, but could come whenever I they liked. ELTHAM’S POSITION. j Mr. Weir, said that the committee desired to establish one power board just as earnestly as the Stratford people. Their proposition had been turned down. It would have been in effect one power board. They naturally decided to go on with those who were desirous of supporting them, and a petition was formed in those districts. When they heard from the meeting at Stratford they decided to hold their hand until they heard from the deputation. The position was that each district to come had to secure the votes of 25 per cent, from the district before it could join. They wanted to know whom they were dealing with. The question of whether power could be supplied to all at the same time could not be answered with any guarantee to-day Mr. Weir added that if they all camo ! in. and the committee had a certain I amount of power available, they did not want to be hung up with an argument I -te to who should receive the power. I Mr. Forsyth said that the matter of the distribution of the power was in the air. The duty of a power board would be to supply power for the whole of Taranaki. If they formed a htg board, could they get the necessary petition signed? They thought that the smaller board being formed, with an invitation to other 'districts to join in, -would be the best thing to do. ■Mr. Walter said that he thought it was reasonable to give any district a certain time to get’their petitions in, and if they failed to have their petitions completed by that time, to leave Al’Qßl out. The delegates from the local bodies thfeD retired, and, the committee discussed the matter in committee.

AGREEMENT ARRIVED AT. When the deputation returned the following resolution was submitted to them:—“Thai this meeting is of opinion that, in order to secure success in obtaining the necessary signatures to the petition and to expedite the str - ply of electric power, that it is expedient that the boundaries of the. power district as detined by the draft petition should be retained as at present, and that the areas defined in the letter of .September 10 be included as outer areas, and that any of such outer areas be invited to make immediate application to be included in the power district, and that the local bodies’ committee be asked to appoint delegates to assist the committee.” The areas referred to in the letter of September 10 are as follows:—“Hawera, Waimate West, Eltham, Stratford. Inglewood and Clifton Counties, and boroughs contained therein,” Mr Weir said that if this were satisfactory anv district would be enabled to come directly a 25 per cent, vpte was obtained, and the committee would reduce its number of delegates from 9 to 7 am' so allow five seats on the board to be filled when tile 25 per eent. of votes were obtained. A resolution to this effect would be passed if the local bodies aeeepted the resolution. It was stated that representation on the board would be In- proportion to valuation of the various ffistrW, In a question regarding Che

rating of outer and inner area, it was stated that the board would impose rates in the same manner as other local bodies. H was hoped to supply electricity at a cost which would cover expenses. In reply to a question regarding the policy of the board, it was stated. that the board would not go ahead until the other parts of the province which proposed coming in bad had a reasonable chance to do so and discuss the poncy. -< Mr. McMillan said that the deputation thought that the proposal to go and establish a board was quite satisfactory, provided that the deputation’s requirements were agreed to. It practically amounted to the. same thing as wetting a big board, only the committee was safeguarding themselves against being stopped by a disagreement with perhaps one small part. Nothing del’nite. could be done until the deputation had seen their various councils. They a"Tced to the. proposition as placed before them.