ELECTRICITY FOR NORTH SHORE.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 229, 24 September 1920, Page 2

ELECTRICITY FOR NORTH SHORE.

BIRKENHEAD AND NOBTHCOTE. SCHEME TO BE FORMULATED. A conference of the members of the Birkenhead and Northcotc Borough Councils was held in the Birkenhead Borough Chambers last evening .to consider the advisability of proceeding with a scheme for providing electricity for the two boroughs. The Mayor of Birkenhead (Mr. Jas. T. MePhail) presided, and the -speakers all expressed regret that Devonport had so far not come to a decision to join the other boroughs in the matter. If this were agreed to, the Takapuna Council was willing to consider the larger scheme, but not a scheme solely with Birkenhead and Northcote. The meeting was unanimous in regretting the necessity for abandoning for the present the whole scheme for the North Shore, and in hoping that even yet Devonport and Takapuna would sec their way to combine with the two western boroughs. Strong appeals to bring about the larger scheme were made by Crs. Skeates, Walton, Hadfield, Lockie, Cadness, and others, while not opposing the combination of Birkenhead and Northcote as the alternative. The chairman moved, and Cr. A. W. Smith seconded: "That this conference approves of the boroughs of Birkenhead and Northcote combining for a scheme for a supply of electricity for the two boroughs, and to engage an electrical engineer to report upon a preliminary scheme."

This was carried unanimously, and a committee, comprising the mayors of Birkenhead and Xortncote, and Crs. Skeates, Wood, Cadness, and Lockie, was empowered to engage an electrical expert to formulate a scheme, which would be presented to another conference when ready.