"TOO MANY POWER BOARDS"

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 146, 22 June 1936, Page 8

"TOO MANY POWER BOARDS"

Administration of clectrie power supply will be investigated by the Minister of Public Works during the next Parliamentary recess. The present system, Mr. Semple holds, is both cumbersome and costly. "I am satisfied," he states, "there are too many power boards with too little to do and at too great a cost." Probably this is correct. The power board system was designed when there was extensive development work to be undertaken. Reticulation and the introduction of a new power system in widespread rural areas called for a great deal of pioneer work. In districts where that has been done and where, from now onwards, the work will be mainly administration, maintenance, and extension, a more economical system could probably be devised. But we suggest that, in making his inquiries, the Minister of Public Works should act in close collaboration with the Minister of Internal Affairs, who wishes to reform local government generally. . With electricity supply, as with other locally administered services, there are two possible ways of reform: ' amalgamation of local bodies with the same function so as to extend 1 their areas, or amalgamation ol bodies with different functions in tlu j same area. Before putting a new system into operation the Govern ment (and the local bodies them 3 selves) should consider thoroughly J whether extension of area, extensior 3 of function, or a combination ol " both would best achieve the aim ii r view. We do not want to see over e long delay in making investigations a but action has been so long deferrec i now that there can be no complain if a little further time is given l< e deciding what method is best suitc< 1 to New Zealand conditions. >- ——————