SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 12 April 1929, Page 6

SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY.

PATEA WANTS TO SECEDE

FROM SOUTH TARANAKI BOARD.

To seek permission for the wlio'e of the Patea County to link up with the Wangaiiui-Kangitikei Power Board, a, imputation comprising aiess-is -i. J. Gibbs, A. i>. Muggeridge, n. bcown, C. It. Honeyfiem, it- u. \\'atxs., L. It. Davies, \\. Duck, P. Palmer and D. it. Hamilton, representative or ratepayer ox the l northern portion ox tiliecounty anil Known as tne electrical! committee, waited on the Minister or Public Works (tne Hon. It. A. Ransom J in Patea yesterday. Addressing the Minister:, Mr Gibbs said the Patea county iliad, by the appropriate Act, been included in tne soutiii Taranaki Power Board’s area,, but. iialt of the, county had transferred to, tne Wianganui-liang}itikei district on account or the South Taranaki. Power Board’s delay m making progress. Tlie northern portion of the county considered it m its interests to follow the Lead of the southern districtA meeting iliad been bend and a petition had been circulated. The Wanganui board had agreed to take, in the area and they had made the necessary arrangement Sj but, the South Taranaki Board had refused to let them make the change. Tire ■district had been unanimous except tor about six ratepayers. They had approached Mr Coates, the then Prime Minister, and in a, final interview with, him lie had hold them up until the arbitration hearing between the booth Taranaki Boai'd and the, Hawera County Electric Company had concluded. Mr Veitch had at that time, given them ah possible assistance, but that was before he .became a Minister. “Of course, he may have become a politician now,” remarked Mr Gibbs. He said they would be better served from Wanganui, and it they could go, ahead at present they could arrange matters definitely with tihe Wanganui people. He made reference, to the heavy cost of the arbitration proceedings and pointed out that the Patea county had never hah anything to do with tne Hawera County Electric Company. The Patea. County was now cut into halves, and the Waverley end was already receiving current from AY anganui.' They desired the whole county to be on the same footing. They should, he considered, be entitled to self-die-teirmination to some extent. Mr H. G. Dickie, M.P., said AYa.veriey liad been allowed to make the l change because they had “got into a mess” financially with their own scheme, which had been (taken over by Wanganui. Mr Gibbs protested against tbe attitude of the chief engmeer of the Public AA'orks Department. The Minister said that hei was wed aware it was a burning question in the district, and lie assured Mr Gibbs the interests of the district would be kept in view. He considered Mr Kissel whig likely to, favour linking u,p with the Government schemes. Mr. Gibbs said Air. Kissel had assured the c c Hawora peoipio’ J that ho would do Ids best not to let anyone break aw,ay from .their area if he could help itThe Minister said lie would make no pronoun cement until after the arhitration proceedings. “AA r e want to give ill© best possible service throughout the countrv,” he said. The matter woukl receive very careful consideration and the department would try to he just to them and,, at the same time, not to he unjusit to others.