NEW DEPARTMENT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 284, 30 November 1945, Page 8

NEW DEPARTMENT

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY RETICULATION PROVISIONS Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, this day. The establishment of a State hydroelectric department and the power reticulation of sparsely-settled areas which could not normally comply with the minimum requirements before reticulation lines are constructed were the main provisions of the Electricity Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives last evening. The provision for rural reticulation prompted Mr. Corbett (Nat., Egmont) to comment that it was an electricity country quota. It was explained by the Minister of Works, Mr. Semple, that the hydro-electric branch of the Works Department would be constituted as a separate organisation to deal with the sale of electric current, leaving the purely constructional side of the system in the hands of the Works Department. There would be a close relationship between these Departments in regard to the planning of new works, but the actual construction would nov be a function of the new Department, the chief engineer of which would be the general manager. Each organisation would have its specified functions and there would be no dual control or overlapping. Council to be Set Up It was also proposed to set up a rural electrical reticulation council, comprising the general manager, one other officer of the Department and three members recommended by the supply authorities through their organisation. The council ' would have authority to make a small levy, equal to one-quarter per cent of the total revenue of the electrical supply authorities, which would create a fund for the payment of subsidies towards the supply of consumers in sparsely-populated areas. At present, explained Mr. Semple, these potential consumers had to give a 15 per cent guarantee, but under the provisions of the bill, if they could not measure up to this, the rural reticulation council could find up to 11 per cent of the guarantee. This would enable power boards to provide an electrical service. The guarantee fund in the first year would be £23,000. and he thought it would grow in two years to £40,000. The smaller sum he had mentioned would enable 1500 miles of line to be undertaken. The power boards, he added, were unanimous in asking for the bill.