ELECTRICITY IN ASHBURTON COUNTY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 16, 29 October 1938, Page 10

ELECTRICITY IN ASHBURTON COUNTY

Steps Taken by Council Twenty Years Ago

Specially written for the “Guardian” by John Bbown, “ Lowcliffe,” Ashburton. (Copyright.)

No. 18. li is 20 years ago since the Ashburton County Council made up its mind to link up with the Canterbury Progress League—a body, with headquarters in Christchurch, composed ol other bodies whose object was “the advancement of Canterbury.” On March 1, 1918, the Chairman (Mr John Cairns) and Mr AY. T. 'Lill were appointed to attend a Conference in Christchurch for the purpose of forming a league, but it was not till August that a deputation from the Progress League waited! upon the Council to put before it the advantages that would be likely to come by joining the League. At this meeting no decision was come to. In September Messrs Lill and Harrison moved and it was carried: “That the Progress League to written to informing it that, although sympathising with its object, the Council is debarred from contributing more than is. legally laid down by the Act from its ‘unauthorised expenditure, ’ which is a small sum.” So in November £25 was granted to the League, and Mr Cairns was appointed the Council’s delegate. A Timaru Proposal. There is a certain connection between the League and the Electric Power Board. South Canterbury, through Mr Craigie, M.P., was pushing hard to get power from Coleridge to Timaru, and the Ashburton County Council saw the force of uniting with South Canterbury to come in on the power as it passed through the County. Hence the motion moved: in January, 1919, is understandable, viz., “that this Council wishes to express its appreciation to Mr Craigie, M.P., for his efforts to- secure electric power for

Minister re Lake Coleridge extension to Ashburton and South Canterbury, and “Mr Lill was thanked for his :e----port and his sustained and enthusiastic interest in this matter.” .

In August, 1920, the annual subscription of £214 10s to the Progress League was paid, though when the motion was put there were three dissentients .

On May 25, 1921, at the request ol the Electric Power Board Committee, Mr Christie, of the Council staff was to be asked to take round a petition for signatures. Evidently, however, this was not done, for in July vhe Power Board Committee was asked “to appoint a canvasser and the Council made itself responsible for payment of the same.”

At the December meeting in 1921 a letter was received from the Returning Officer and it was resolved to grant the use of the - Council Chambers to the Board for its first meeting. Strangely, the Power Board is again going to hold its meetings in the same Council Chambers in which it held its first meeting—while its own premises are undergoing alterations. In these few years the Ashburton Electric Power Board has become a huge concern and the County is reaping the benefit of its early effort. Interest Rates in Slump Period. The slump that struck Now Zealand in 1921 was disastrous while it lasted. Fortunately it was short. The rate of interest charged: by lending institutions was 7 per cent., and when the Council’s bank advised the Council of this increased charge a motion with some pith and heat? in it on July 1, 1921, was passed, and copies of the resolution were sent to the other County Councils throughout New Zealand asking for their support, a copy also being sent to the Acting-Prime Minister. The motion read as follows: “That this Council views with alarm the high rate of interest on money in this Dominion, which is bound to cause stagnation and depression instead of progress and prosperity. Seeing that the price of primary products of this country, such as wool, beef and mutton have fallen to such an alarming extent that, with the high rate of interest and burdensome taxation, it is almost impossible for the producer to carry on, is it not possible for the Government to use its great influence in trying to bring the rate of interest in this country somewhere on a level with that of Great Britain? The Council need not stress the point that this, being a young country, needs cheap money for development purposes. The high cost of living cannot be modified while interest is so high.” aOld Bank Building Gone. AVherever possible through these articles I have tried to connect the old times with the present. Just lately there has been some talk regarding the Progress''League and Ashburton’s connection with it; so also has there been mention of the Power Board’s building activities, and I have touched on their beginnings. Another connection with the past is gone, as is seen by the gap at one of the corners in the main Ashburton street left by the demolition of the Union Bank of Australia. A new hank is going up in place of the old. Even before the days of the County Council whose first meeting was held in January, 1877, the Union Bank 'was the Bank of the original public body the Ashburton Road Boards—and it was not till March 1, 1924, that a motion was passed by the County Council, “that on the First day of April, 1924, the Bank of New Zealand he the Council’s Bank.” It was stated “that the change from the Union Bank of Australia was simply for patriotic reasons and it was decided to write to the Manager and General Manager of the Bank to that effect.” So the old gave place to the new.