“UP AGAINST IT.”

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 11 July 1925, Page 6

“UP AGAINST IT.”

A PROBLEM OF FINANCE. T \RANAKI HYDRO-ELECTRIC SCHEME. A deputation from the Taranaki Power Board waited upon the Prime AL mister (Hon. J. G. Coates) on Thursday (sajs the Dominion), with a request that Parliament authoiise the board to spend its money as was thought necessaiy on the whole of the work, and .not under two separate heads, as stipulated under existing arrangements. . Mr Carman, chairman of the boaict, stated that the original loan authorised for the work was £350,000, of which £IOO,OOO was to be spent on head works and £250,000 on reticulation The board had been operating tor about fifteen months, and now found that they would be short of money in respect of head works. They had under-esti-mated for that part of the scheme _ A new estimate had been, taken out which fixed the cost of the head works at £150,000, and of reticulation at £240.000 The board asked that power be criven to spend the money on the work Tii general. If thev were not .allowed to do that it would mean another loan, and the* work might be held up in the meantime. The authority requested had been given to the Wairarapa board by means of a special clause in the Wash-ing-Up Bill last year. Air Coates said they were getting into an extraordinary position with regard to these matters. They found these loans being authorised by the ratepayers for a definite purpose, and then Parliament authorised a hoard to do something different. The point ho had to consider was whether he should ask Parliament to waive the decision of the ratepayers. Ho asked what the feeling was on the subject in the board district. , . , , Air Carman stated that several members of tlio board who represented a. wide area wore in favour of the proposal submitted by the deputation. “I quite realise that you are up against it.” remarked the Prime Minister, “because the present position yen are i,, means that the work will probably be held up, and that will result in adding to the interest charges.” Mr CArman: If we could group the work intsend of doing it under two heads we should be all right. Air Coates: I quite understand that. The Prime Alinister asked Air Kissel, engineer of the livdro-electrie branch of the Public Works Department, who was present, what he thought of the position. Mr Kissel replied that he did not think it would lie in the interests of general economy for the work to he held up. The. Prime Alinister intimated that he would like to have the opinion of the district on the matter. In the meantime a.clause could he prepared.