HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 July 1922, Page 6

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

EXTENSION DOWN THE COAST. FARMERS WANT POWER. SUPPLY FROM NEW PLYMOUTH. That coastal people are alive to the benefits to be derived from the installation of hydro-electric power, and realise the advantages which would follow an extension of the New Plymouth hydro-electric scheme to the district, was evidenced at the annual meeting of the Okato-Puniho Dairy Factory yesterday. The matter was introduced by the chairman (Mr. J. Wooldridge), who considered that the coastal people should move in the direction of having the hydro-electric power from New Plymouth brought down the coast. The Taranaki County Council should, perhaps, take the question up, but their hands would be considerably strengthened by support from the district. He understood that if £lOOO annual revenue was guaranteed, the New Plymouth Borough Council would be prepared to put a line down the coast as far as Stony River, which was as far as the borough license extended at present. Possibly if sufficient support were forthcoming the Borough -Council would carry the line to the county boundary.

He understood that the cost of running a milking-machine and lighting a house also would be about £2O per annum. If the consumer- was a mile off the main road, a portion of the cost of reticulation would be paid by the Borough Council if the power were required for milking-machines, as it was the use of power they wished to encourage. For lighting only, the consumer would have to pay the cost of reticulation. He understood that four lights would cost £6 or £7 per annum. The cost of a two-horse motor would be £2B, and would have to be found by the consumer. He considered that they should take steps to put in an application straight away, and so be sure of the line. He understood that the district from Bell Block to Waitara would be applying for power from New Plymouth. Mr. W. Binnie thought that there was something wrong with the New Plymouth charges. In Canterbury the charges/ were from £4 to £6 per h.p.

The chairman said that the Taranaki County Council would probably be calling general meetings at Okato and Oakura, and he urged all suppliers to attend the meetings. The people of Spotswood were prepared to find £2OO per year, and that should assist them. ,

Mr. W. J. Gray considered they should watch the matter closely and particularly watch the charges New Plymouth made. When in America, he ascertained that electric power generated at Niagara was sold 200 miles away at two dollars per horsepower. New Plymouth was evidently trying to be free from and that was no good to the coastal people. New Plymouth proposed to use their streams, and they should have a voice in the matter and see there was no profiteering. Mr. L. Henton failed to see where Nevr Plymouth were profiteering. He commended the New Plymouth ratepayers for the progressive spirit with which they were actuated in taking up the hydro-electric scheme. They were out to do their best for the country, and were awake to the fact that the ‘‘cockie” required power, even if he did not know it himself.

The chairman said that they were not interested as to whether New Plymouth was free of rates or not, but whether they could run their machines, etc., more cheaply by electricity than by their present benzine or kerosene engines, and from figures quoted he thought they could. He also pointed out that they would have to face the initial charges of installation! Mr. Gray said that he strongly favored the power, but they must investigate carefully the actual charges.

Mr. Binnie considered that a strong endeavor should be made to get the license extended to the county boundary..