POWER FOR NEW LYNN.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 199, 24 August 1925, Page 9

POWER FOR NEW LYNN.

TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENTS.

WAITEMATA BOARD'S

POSITION.

STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN.

The position o f New Lynn in relaturn of its supply of electric power was the subject of a statement by the chairman of the Waitcmata Electric Power Board, at its meeting this morning. Mr. Harden prefaced his remarks by stating that there seemed to be a good deal of misunderstanding in reference to the position.

He explained that some three years ago New Lynn Town Board seceded fiom the suburban bodies who were forming the Auckland Electric Power Board, and were left out of the area iio nf « °w .. reqUest - On the formation of the "Waitemata Power Board they again decided to stay out, although they were included in the inner area? As a result of tins they were gazetted an outer area of the Board, which was formed on the understanding- that New Lynn was part of the area, and in point ot fact was included in the petitions which were signed by the ratepayers over the whole area. As the industries in New Lviin were most anxious to obtain electric ener-y tins Board agreed that the Auckland lower Board could supply both the large industries and any other reticulation in New Lynn, provided it was self supporting. This agreement was reached at a conference between the Auckland and Waitemata Power Boards, the New Lynn Town Board, and the Minister of Public Works, and all proposed reticulation had to be passed by the Waitemata Tower Board's engineer for two reasons one being that the reticulation should be self supporting, and the other that it should dovetail in so that when the W aitemata Board assumed control and supply it would fit in with their main scheme. Mow, although this conference was held some months back, the Board hud not had any communication from New Lynn at all, although it had been most anxious to assist this district, as It meant a fair connected load for when the. Board was ready to take over. Therefore it cannot take any liability because certain streets had not been commenced. The New Lynn Board had known the position quite well, because instead of approaching the Board they went direct to the Prime Minister with a complaint, and upon investigation it was quite evident that, as only two or three houses in a street containing 40 had applied for current, the ratepayers could not have known the position. Mr. C. F. Gardner, who has always been antagonistic to the board, stated at New Lynn that, according to the Thames Valley Electric Power Board our charge will probably be 9d per unit," the chairman said. "I do not know what the Thames Board has to do with the question, but that he knows full well that our prices for lighting and heaths are definitely fixed as far as the inner area is concerned. What the charges will be for New Lynn if it remains in the outer area has not yet been dealt with, but it will be a higher rate than the rest of the district."

The chairman added that, whatever reasons the New Lynn Town Board has for not joining in with the other districts is best known to themselves Mr Gardner stated at a public meeting reported in the Press of the 20th August that the Auckland Power Board would have reticulated the whole of New Lvnn if this board had not objected. This is only half a truth, because he did not say that the reticulation would have been at Waitemata's expense. "We have no objection to the Auckland Power Board completing for us the whole of New Lynn, to be taken over next year, providing the revenue obtained is sufficient in each section to pay interest and overhead charges, we have everything to gain by this being done, and we are most anxious to cooperate with the town board to expedite the work.

"The suggestion that New Lynn should join the Auckland Power Board is entirely out of the question, and could not be allowed under any circumstances," he concluded.