POWER FOR NORTH SHORE.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 170, 19 July 1924, Page 5

POWER FOR NORTH SHORE.

LINKED UP WITH KAIPARA.

THE MINISTER'S DECISIOIT. ■} DEVONPORT MUST JOIN SCHEME. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") ) WELLINGTON, this day. In certain quarters a question has been raised whether Devonport is to be included in, the Kaipara Electric Power Board area. The Hon. J. G. Coates (Minister of Public Works) repeated his statement to-day to your representative that all the North Shore boroughs must be included in the area, which takes in New Lynn and goes up to a point beyond Helensville. The Government will not grant Takapuna or any other borough power until a scheme on the lines indicated by Mr. Coates has been inaugurated. Mr. Coates said further that agreement had been reached on all points. He had informed the boroughs that he would not agree to the formation of another power board, nor to their joining the Auckland Power District. He insisted on them remaining within the Kaipara district on the lines originally laid down. These terms had been accepted in return for a certain assurance as to the supply of power, and when and where. The Auckland parties to> the conference subsequently amplified these proposals, which they had accepted subject to approval at a meeting of the councils concerned and the Kaipara board next Thursday evening in the Auckland ■ Chamber of •Commerce. It was stated that all parties were quite satisfied and it had been agreed that it was to the mutual advantage of the Kaipara district and the urbanised North Shore to combine. This would give an improved load factor, making for more economical working. There would be industrial, rural and domestic loads, which would dovetail into eae-t other. The Department's undertaking was to give a supply for all requirements and give it about next June. .Position of Devonport, Though Devonport borough ham not been represented at the conference* held between representatives of the other marine boroughs, correspondence has passed between the Minister and the Mayor on the subject. In response to an inquiry as to the terms and conditions on which" the Department would supply power to Devonport, the Minister telegraphed: "Department is not prepared to supply power direct to Devonport, but favours North Shore boroughs joining Kaipara board district in a combined scheme. Would supply such power board with power at our standard rates, these being £10 per k.v.a. (kilo-volt-ampere) for first 200 and £8 for next 4800 k.v.a., at a point to be agreed between Department and board." The question as it affecta Devonport will be discussed at the next meeting of the Borough Council. One of the objections raised to the proposal that North Shore boroughshould join the Kaipara Electric Power Board, whose headquarters are to be at Helensville, was that it would be illogical to make a city area with a population equal to that of Invercargilserve as the outer district for Kaipara. This difficulty appears to have been adjusted at the conference with the Minister yesterday.