Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1927. POWER BOARD’S PROBLEM

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 September 1927, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1927. POWER BOARD’S PROBLEM

The Grey Power Board members are to hold a special meeting this evening, to discuss further with Messrs Viekerman and Lancaster, consulting engineers, their recent report on hydro-electrical schemes for this district. The gath ering is important, as the result of the discussion may, decide whether the Board will ask the electors for authority to raise another £lOO,OOO or more, for hydroelectric installation, or whether it will be content with some less ambitious project. At prepent, it is doubtful if the electors are in the mood to support lavish expenditure, unless overwhelming evidence is forthcoming that the investment will be remunerative, and that rates will not be increased. The real matter to be considered is not the practicability of the Crooked River or any similar

hydro-electricity scheme. So far as we know to the contrary, Messrs Vickerman and Lancaster’s report may be unanswerable from the en gineering viewpoint, and their professional capacity is unquestioned. Nor is the main interest in whether the Crooked River project is better than some of the other suggestions for hydro-supply. District anxiety is more concentrated on the problem whether a few thousand people, who have already spent £lOO,OOO on the present electricity supply, would be justified in undertaking a liability of a further similar or more. That is the real question to be wisely answered. The first £lOO,OOO expenditure has not proved so remunerative as to allay the danger of a rat 3 having to be struck to meet the annual liabilities. What evidence is there that so much new business is available as to pay all the expenses arising from the borrowing of another £lOO,OOO or more ?

The discussion between the Board and those they represent should be kept quite friendly, if frank. Let it be assumed from the beginning that there is on both sides nothing but the desire, io do what is best for the district. No loss of prestige will be suffered by Board members, if the hydro-sup-ply scheme is not persevered with at this juncture, and others will not be “defeated,” if a contrary decision is taken. All wish to see the district flourish, and are not afraid to take an ordinary commercial risk. To many of the Board’s electors, however, the risk incurred by the hydro-proposals seems to be excessive, and one that few would take in their own private business, rural or urban. Where is the permanent and remunerative demand coming from

to meet the proposed new supply ? The Board may have already potential customers awaiting power or lighting facilities, but is this demand now, —or is it likely to be within the next decade, —of that extent justifying the proposed large expenditure ? Patriotic hopes alone will not pay annual interest bills. The. financial position of many Coast residents, town and country, is not of that kind making it’a matter of indifference to them if Power Board rates are heavy or light. The farmers, particularly are facing monetary problems.

We leave the Board members to reflect on the points raised above, and would remind them of the proverbial advice to cut a coaf according to the cloth available. Should they decide on recommend ing the hydro-electric supply scheme to the electors, they will have to give goo*d reasons for the faith that is within them, not only their faith in the special plans proposed, but from the belief that the district can afford the expenditure, and will have no reason, later, to regret the outlay. At present, a small extension of the steam plant seems to be the extent of most of the Board’s electors’ ambitions, judging from comments among the ratepayers.