“WE WANT POWER”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 May 1938, Page 9

“WE WANT POWER”

SCHEME TO RETICULATE TINUI DISTRICT

REPRESENTATIONS TO WAIRARAPA BOARD

(“Times-Age” Special).

“It seems hard to hold up such a big scheme for the sake of £4O, and I certainly think we should try to proceed with it,” observed the chairman, Mr A. C. Pearce, in the course of a discussion at yesterday’s meeting of the Wairarapa Electric Power Board, on a proposal to reticulate the Tinui district. A deputation representing Tinui settlers waited on the board with an urgent appeal to have the power taken out as far as the Tinui Township. Subject to certain conditions which would reduce the guarantee deficiency from £145 to £4O, the board decided to proceed with the scheme. Mr James Andrew on behalf of the deputation, said a tremendous effort had been made to have the Tinui district reticulated. The result of an extensive canvass for guarantees was a total of £1523 for the No. 1 scheme, which would take the power beyond Tinui, and £1363 for the No. 2 scheme, which would not go past Tinui. The result of the canvass showed the fine spirit of the settlers and indicated that they were really keen to get the power. The guarantees would hold good until June 11. Unless the board did something definite by that date the whole scheme would fall down, and the chances of getting power into the district would vanish for another 20 years. It was a sore point in the district that a numbers of settlers had stood out. They must, however, be regarded as an asset, as eventually they would have to come in.

In reply to a Mr Andrew said the availability rate would not be acceptable to settlers in the district. The chairman, Mr A. C. Pearce, said the guarantee to take the power to Tinui was £145 short of the estimate. That deficiency represented a difference of 2 per cent., which would mean a loss to the board. Mr Andrew said that if the board would not do anything the settlers, as a last resource, would interview the Minister of Public Works. ..“If the board and then the Minister will not take action,” he added, “then we never want to see the power.” Mr Pearce pointed out that the Sec-retary-Manager (Mr G. Brown) and himself had discussed the reticulation of the rural areas with the Minister. While Mr Semple had been impressed with and appreciated proposals put forward by Mr Brown, he did not think they could expect much satisfaction from the Government for some considerable time.

After the deputation had withdrawn it was decided, on the motion of Mr F. C. Daniell, to proceed with the scheme showing a deficiency of £145, provided the Castlepoint County Council reticulated its five cottages, and one of the guarantors raised his amount from £35 to £BO. That would reduce the deficiency q to £4O. The guarantees are to be subject to the approval of the executive committee.