THE HYDRO-ELECTRICITY SCHEME.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 October 1921, Page 4

THE HYDRO-ELECTRICITY SCHEME.

The report of the Public Works electrical engineer on the proposal . .ade by the consulting engineers, aud supported strongly by the town manager, to survey the district above the new works for additional power, and increase the size of No. 2 tunnel, is now available. It endorsee their recommendation that the survey be made and the tunnel increased. The report therefore ia a complete vindication of the attitude adopted by the council’s officers and the public meeting’s resolution asking the council to put the work in hand forthwith. The council did not act upon the meeting’s resolution; it simply brought down a proposal to borrow the necessary money to carry out the enlargement -of the tunnel, etc. The public meeting did not ask for this. It only asked that the survey be put in hand and the tunnel continued at the larger size whilst the survey was going on, thus avoiding delay. When the survey was finished was the proper time for obtaining the ratepayers’ authority for the additional expenditure entailed, though we have contended that this course was wholly unnecessary, as the council has ample power to obtain and spend the extra money. The council’s action has only resulted in delay, and delay in connection with this great undertaking costs the borough some £3OO per week. We hope the receipt of this independent report will move the council to do the right thing, namely, go on with the tunnel at the larger size, put in hand the survey, and withdraw the unnecessary loan proposal.