ELECTRICITY SUPPLY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 69, 23 March 1937, Page 10

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY.

EAST COAST DISTRICTS.

GISBORNE TO RUATORIA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) TOKOMARU BAY, Monday. The Waiapu County Council decided last week to carry their campaign for electrical reticulation of the district a stage further. The chairman, Mr. Denys Williams, reported having interviewed officials of the Poverty Bay Electric Power Board, and indicated that the cost of a preliminary survey and canvass of likely consumers would cost approximately £500. The matter arose from a letter from the Waiapu Hospital Board expressing the hope that the council would carry the matter further so that the interest which had already been aroused would be maintained.

For two years the Progress Association in Tokomaru Bay has been endeavouring to interest the authorities in the electrical reticulation of the whole ,East Coast from Gisborne to Rnatoria, including the townships of Tokomaru Bay and Te Puia. The area covers about 750 square miles. It was not until the Waiapu Hospital Board took the matter up, however, that an official move was made. Representatives of the Poverty Bay Power Board, Gisborne, the Uawa County Council, Tolaga Bay, and the Waiapu Hospital Board met the Waiapu County Council at Te Puia. A round table conference voiced the unanimous opinion that the coast should be reticulated, and the pre-election policy of the Labour party, voiced by the local member, Mr. A. G. Hultqukst. and by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, was recaHed. Mr. Semple's actual statement, it was stated, was that he wanted to see electric power provided for the loneliest homesteads, as well as for the cities.

The council decided to get definite assurances from the Power Board and Uawa County Council that they would contribute to the cost of the survey.