HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLVI, Issue 17, 26 August 1919, Page 5

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS. CLUTHA COUNTY VOTES £IOO. At Friday's meeting of the (Jlutlia County Council a letter was received from the convener (Mr C. Todd) and secretary (Mr W..B.'Steel) of the Otago Hydro-Electric Scheme Committee, who ■wrote on behalf of the committee stating that- in connection with the preliminary work lesolved upon "by a meeting of local'bodies they looked to the Clutlia County Council for a sum of £IOO, Councillor North stated that whilst in Tapaiiui the previous week he met Mr Rodger (chairman of the Southland Committee), who was speaking in that district on behalf of the Southland feclienie. Mr Rodger said he would be very pleased l to address, meetings in this district. He did not want to force the project on this district, 'but only to come down and ventilate the matter. If this district came into the Southland ■scheme now the subscribers would be placed, on the same footing as the Southlanders,

Councillor Camming said that the Glenkenich Riding and all the Waikoikoi part of his own riding were joining in wit'll Southland, and information was now being, collected in tliosc districts. Southland was not wishing to get into Otago in this matter, but to come up to the Blue Mountains as a boundary.

Councillor Be«g moved: "That the council accede to the request for the payment of £100." if they were going' to have power they would have to make investigations. 'They would save much money later on by doing so. Mistakes would ;bc. ce.rtain to happen, but the more extensive the investigations the more the mistakes would ! be minimised. That was a reasonable policy, and so expense was. necessary. The proposal of Southland was that pending the Otago scheme they would sell power in a block. Southland estimated that within seven, or 10 years they would- have no power to spare, and all thev proposed to do in. the meantime was to supply until the Otago scheme was operating. There was yet no data as to the cost. Southland had got the farmers to sign up for power, and the prices were high coin-pared with Waipori, It did not even follow that, those signing 'would, get electric power, as a power board would have to be created and the matter of cost- to consumers would 'have to be

gone into by it to see if a supply would pay at the prices stated. There was at present no statutory power, and the scheme wa* in. the air in that respect. Mr Hodger had done a great .work in the matter of ventilating the possibilities. He (the speaker) had been at the meeting of the committee iu Dunedinthe previous night, and the Southland proposal was: received favourably. Southland estimated that their power would be going in three years, but there were some men with great experience who doubted if they could get i'liy scheme going witltfn three years. However, three years 1 would certainly Iv ahead of Otago. lie 'would be very sorry if the Clutlia County stood out of participating in the negotiations in a scheme that would' be of great .benefit. Councillor 'Christie seconded "the motion, but would support Councillor North's suggestion to invite Mr Rodger down here to- provide them with some facts.

Councillor Cumming said that, the two

southern ridings- were going into the Southland scheme, and it would scarcely be fair to ask them to provide their share of the cost.

The 'Chairman (Councillor Maginness) said that- Maclennan Riding would l'ever see electlicity—a bush district like that.

Councillor Begg said Southland would not have the power to supply later on. The maximum power would be 113,001) li.p., and they expected to 'be able to absorb all that in time, H the two ridings mentioned hJTtI cnotributed to the investigations of tho Southland scheme this council would not ask them to tiibute here, but if not it would be ail honour to contribute now.

The Chairman thought the ainouut a small one, and the council should heartily support the proposal. The Southland scheme was not antagonistic, but helpful.

Councillor Xorth: The Dunedin City Council 'was opposed to the scheme, and therefore this council should look to Southland.

Councillor Begg said Southland could urt supply. Jf the Monowai were fully ueu'ii.pcd it would provide about. 30 per cent. m«re than Waipoii was capable of developing', but any one of the various Otago schemes 1 under review would' develop five times that amount. Councillor Xorth was wrong in saying that the city council was opposed 1 to the Otago scheme. The chairman of the lighting committee 'was a m'em'ber of the committee to promote the Otago scheme. 1 Tho motion was carried.