ELECTRICITY FOR TAKAPUNA.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 188, 9 August 1924, Page 12

ELECTRICITY FOR TAKAPUNA.

l RATEPAYERS' OPPOSITION.

TO JOINING WAITEMATA

At a meeting of Lake Takapuua ratepayers, held vast oveiiing at Tukafitina, Mr. J. Collins presiding, tlie first step w;is taken in organising opposition lo joining the proposed \\ aitemata Power Jioard district anil in favour of taking power from the Auckland Kleetrie Power Board. Mr. S. J. Crookes, member of the Auckland Power Hoard, who in also a Takajmna ratepayer, said that according to tlio Mayor of Takapuna, the Waiteniaia Power Hoard's iliargu for lighting would be 7d per unit. The Auckland Hoard, said Mr. Crookes, had offered to supply at 5Ad in winter uiiil :Ud in the summer. slr. Crookes also pointed out that it power were taken from the Auckland Hoard there would \vi practically no delay, as against tilt; eighteen months they would have to wait for current if they joired t!;e Waitemata Power Hoard district. Commenting on the statement that the Waitemata Board would get power from Arapuni at the lowest standard rates, Mr. Crookes paid it was somewhat misleading, and he pointed out how the Auckland Hoard was the one exception to other boards in fretting specially favourable treatment from the. fjoverument. If the northern shores joined the Auckland Board the ratepayer* would be saved heavy administration costs, and tlo expense of reticulation, and would receive cheaper po.ver. Mr. A. M. fiould, who convened the meeting, explained that he was not acting in antagonism in any way to the Takapuna lioioupli Council, but merely as a ratepayer convinced that the best interests of Takapuna wou'd n - it be served by joining the Waitemata Power Board's ' district. Dealing with the matter of the veto of the Minister of Public Works, Mr. Gould said he was sure that if the ratepayers were solid they would overcome opposition to tho district joining the Auckland Power TSoard, but in any case a special local bill remedying the position could bo got through the House if the matter were gone about in a proper manner. The meeting expressed its opinion decidedly in favour of joining t'io Auckland Tower Board as aminst the Waitemata Power Hoard. Further it decided to urge upon the Takapuna Borough Council the advisability, bnfore proceeding further with the matter of the petition to join tho Waitemata district, of convening a public moptincr of ratepayers to discuss the merits of the two proposals, reconsider the question of further negotiations with the Minister, and formally anply under the Auckland Tower Board Act for inclusion in the Auckland district, and, if necessary, promote n lon>l bill in Parliament to achieve that end. A committee, the Takapuna Ratepayers' Electric Supply Committee, was appointed, with power to call a joint meeting of the ratepayers' associations of the North Shore, and to circulate, if deemed advisable, .a petition favouring amalgamation with the Auckland Power Board.