HYDRO ELECTRICITY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 20 July 1925, Page 4

HYDRO ELECTRICITY.

SOUTH TARANAKI BOARD. FIRST MEETING' HELD. The first meeting of the South Taranaki Power Board was held in the Borough Council Chambers at Hawera to-day. There were present: Messrs L. A. Bone and E. A. Pacey (Hawera Borougii Council, J. B. Murdoch and E. A. Washer (Hawera County Council), F. Long and J. F. Stevenson (Waimate West County Council), N. C. lnnes (Manaia Town Board) and C. J. Preston (Norman by Town Board). The first buisness was the e’ection of a chairman, Mr Murdoch moving that Mr Bone be appointed. Mr Murdoch jointed out that Mr Bone, a,s Mayor of Hawera, had had a lot to do with the ore i ini in ary (work, and was fainjiliar with the whole position.—Mr Pacey seconded.

Mr Bone, in accepting, said that a good deal of work had already been done. He would endeavour to carry out his duties in a manner that would be of benefit to the ratepayers generally. Mr H. S. Elliott was appointed secretary at a remuneration of £3O per annum, the matter of salary to be reviewed later when the work warranted it. For bi s past services in connection with the preliminary arrangements, Mr Elliott was voted the sum of £SO. Mr R. I>. Welsh was appointed solicitor for the board.

The chairman pointed out- that in connection with the preliminary expenses incurred under _ the heading of .egal expenses, advertising and printing, the board owed about £3OO. When Mr We'sh attended the question of finance was considered. The chairman said that the question wa R whether the money required for the commencement of the board’s activities should be raised by way of bank overdraft, the striking of a, rate, or advance by the various local bodies concerned. He said he had an idea that each local body could advance up to £250 for the first year’s working, which included the preliminary exoduses. Mr Welsh said that this was correct, but the question of finance was dependent upon ‘the board’s decision with regard, to obtaining power. At the present stage the board did not know whether it was going to buy electric power, go in for a scheme itself, or come to an arrangement with either the* Government or the Hawera Electrie; Light Co. He pointed out that If the local bodies made payment as had been provided for, the money then constituted a debt payab’e by the hoard on demand by the focal bodies. Mr Murdoch said he knew that the local bodies were not expecting to advance £250 or £SO. He did not see why the board should not go to. the bank. A small overdraft in the meantime would not hurt. Mr Murdoch then moved that the chairman, Mr Pacey, and the secretary be a committee to' arrange for accommodation at the Bank of New Zealand for a sum up to £IOOO. The motion was seconded. Mr Stevenson said that when the petition was being signed ratepayers were told that a rate would not be struck for preliminary expenses. It would therefore he breaking faith with those who had signed to get, the money from the local bodies. The motion was then put and carried. It was decided to allow Is per mile travelling expenses for mem hem having to travel to the hoard meetings.