WAITEMATA POWER BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 53, 4 March 1925, Page 11

WAITEMATA POWER BOARD.

QUESTION OF AMALGAMATION.

RATEPAYERS SUPPORT PROPOSITION.

POSITION AT TAKAPUNA.

The advisability of the immediate emalg ama 'ti oll of the newly formed Waitem&ta Power Board and the Auckland Power Board was discussed at a public meeting of rat-epayers held in the Foresters' Hall, Takapuna, last evening. (Mr. J. Williamson presided over a very large attendance.

Tie meeting, the chairman explained, had t>een called for the purpose of enabling the people of Takapuna to learn the advantages of the amalgamation of the two boards. The large attendance ■was ample proof of the interest taken by residents in the affairs of the iborougfli. A 'borough that went in for expansion and development must necessarily make mistakes. Takapuna, however, wanted to follow the right idea as regards the vital questio of the supply of light and power.

That his desire was to make a move for tilxe best -before it was too late was the assertion of Mr. A. E. Greenslade, representing the Ivorfchcorte ratepayers and a member of the Waitemiata Power Board. Since his election to the boa-rd ■he had become more convinced that the policy of joining with Auckland was tie right one. The latter policy would mean cheaper power within a shorter period. Also, tie risk taken by the ratepayers would be reduced to a minimum, for in the event of anything going wrong the Waitemeta Board would always have the City 'board's plant. The district was side t>y side with the finest electric plant in the Dominion, and, he thought, the Watem&ta Board would be doing more service- by bringing about amalgamation with tihe city than by continuing , in its independence.

The method of handling the matter ■by the Waitemata Board was questioned by Mr. E. E. Grim wade. He referred to a recent deputation that waited on the btoard, and was heard in committee. It seemed to him that the board had desired to muzzle the proceedings!. Very much work, !he eaid, would be necessary to induce the Wadtemata Board to deal with the matter in the right way. The Minister was willing to agree to the amalgamation, the Auckland Board was agreeable to supply the power at a cheaper rate, and, with She amalgamation, the raising of a loan of £200,000 would be unnecessary. •Regarding the supply of Jigiht, the Auckland Board's price was ojd per unit, ■while the Waitemata Board's cost was 7d per -unit. The speaker als-o understood that at certain periods of the year, the power in the city was supplied for 3d per unit. He asked the object in paying , 7d for what could be obtained for 5Jd. In ell electrical undertakings there was a period of loss at the outset, until the full load "was readied. Thus, at first, the losses were heavy. Another advantage gained by amalgamation would be the absence of a non-consumer's rate.

Mr. A. M. Gould traced the history of negotiations leading to the inception of the Waitemata Board. The scheme, he asserted, had rot been fairly put to the ratepayers, who were really only allowed choice." (Hear, hear.) Here were many phases of the question ■that they had not been told albout, while an alternative scheme had not tveen, submitted. He was of opinion that the consulting engineers of the Waitemata Board were not the men on. whose voice &c question should Tie decided. The expenses of the newly formed board to date, totalled from £1000 to £1200, wMch sum would 'have to be .paid out of revenue. The figures for tlie supply of light mentioned in the engineers' report, he stated, were not reliable. Tiie report was not supported by reason. An overwhelming argument in favour of the amalgamation was the policy of the Public Works Department, that the city must care for her suburbs. It was not reasonable that a country district could supply power as cheaply as the greatest city in ifche Dominion. He was satisfied, that the new .board should not go ahead ontil an engineer iiad reported on tne matter. The position was really a case of investment as against speculation. What was the object, he asked, of not Seeking amalgamation when there was every reason to believe that the Auckland Board was asreeaible.

■Z Mr. 'R. G. Greville quoted figures showing Mr. Gould's estimates to be very conservative. He considered. that Mr. Hayden should have further tested the opinion of the ratepayers foeiare the formation of the board. Many residents had favoured the formation of a board under the impression that the latter was necessary .before amalgamation could be carried out. The suburbs concerned, he ■thought, Should not impose impossible conditions upon the Auckland Board, ■ffhioh would be favouring the suburbs by amalgamation. He felt the ' city Jjoard had not 'been approached in the right manner.

. Messrs. C. Mackley and A. Woodham also spoke in favour of the amalgamation.. Mr. Mackley moved that: "(1). This meeting of ratepayers representative of rtihe North Shore boroughs, approves the policy that it is in the test interests of the inhabitants and ratepayers of the Watemata Power district that that district and the board thereof should be amalgamated with, the Auckland district and board, and accordingly that this meeting cordially supports the request presented by the deputation to the Waitemata Board that immediate steps should be taken to promote an amalgamation accordingly. (2). Further, that this meeting accepts the principle that the existing liabilities of the Waitemata district should not be loaded on the Auckland Power Board, but should be borne by the ratepayers of the Waitemata district. (3). This meeting of payers representing- Notffchcote, Takapuna and Birkenhead, send a telegram to the Minister earnestly requesting his consent to immediate amalgamation." The proposals were recorded by Mr. Gould, and carried unanimously.