POWER EXTENSIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 November 1938, Page 5

POWER EXTENSIONS

„ RETICULATION OF ROADMEN’S COTTAGES REQUEST TO COUNTY COUNCIL A deputation from the Wairarapa Power Board waited on the Masterton County Council yesterday asking the council to consider the reticulation of roadmen’s cottages with a view to assiting the board in the proposals to provide electricity for country areas. The immediate extensions in view related to the Tinui district. Councillors viewed the proposals favourably and agreed to them in principle. The members of the deputation were Messrs A. Campbell Pearce (chairman of the board) R. Brown (secretary-manager), H. B. Keenan (engineer), and F. C. Daniell (one of the Masterton borough representatives on the board). Mr Pearce said they had come to ask the council to consider reticulating, and putting in heaters and ranges in the roadmen’s cottages. If the council did that it was going to help considerably in the reticulation of the country areas. Mr Pearce said the board had approached the Castlepoint County Council, and it had given a very favourable reply. The board, he pointed out, hoped very shortly to take electricity to that area. It had also approached the Wellington Education Board in regard to the reticulation of school residences. The board was considering it and he believed, favourably. Mr Brown stated that the cost of reticulating a five or six roomed cottage would average about £62, that sum including electric lighting, heating and cooking facilities. Mr R. E. Gordon Lee, chairman of the Masterton County Council, said the council would go into the matter. It would have to consider each roadman’s cottage on its merits. He assured the deputation that if the council saw its way clear it would do it, though he was not making any promise that afternoon. Mr Daniell said it was desired thaj. the council should lay it down as a matter of policy rather than that each cottage should be considered on its merits. The Power Board looked to the County Council to get behind the board in its proposals to extend electricity to the country areas. Mr Pearce said he thought the council appreciated what the board was after, and he hoped that it would be able to give the proposal favourable consideration. ,

After the deputation had withdrawn Councillor W. I. Armstrong said he considered the council should support the Power Board, which was doing all it could to put electricity into the country. He moved that the council support the board’s request. “I think it is a step in the right direction,’’ observed Councillor P. R. Welch, seconding the motion, “and it will help the rest of the settlers to get electricity.” Other councillors agreed with the proposal in principle, and the motion was carried. It was decided that a report should be prepared to indicate the position in regard to each cottage, the matter to be further considered at the next meeting of the council.