Untitled

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 46, 6 February 1920, Page 5

Mr. Beamish suggested that titd Premier should be asked to appoint a Minister from the North Island. Mr. Whitlock: Auckland has already made a similar request. Mr. Ebbett: We should support them. We have more claim to a Minister. We do roughly two-thirds of the producing. Mr. Chadwick said that though a large amount of work was being done in Wairoa the Government would have to pay more to get the * men there than they would to get them to work, just outside Napier. The secretary stated that he had been talking with Mr. Dyson, of tile Public Works Department, who had stated that there were two large bridges to ba made just after the tunnel. A light line could be run round the hill so that these would not be delayed if the tunnel was not finished. Machinery should be got for this work. • Mr. Whitlock stated that in America there were practically no men engaged at pick and shovel work. All the work was done by moving steam navvies. Mr. Ellison: I know we are behind the times, but we cannot get the machinery. It was decided to draw the attention of the new Minister to several of the matters mentioned, and the secretary and chairman were appointed to draft a letter. WAIKAREMOANA. Regarding Waikaremoana, Mr. Chadwick said the survey was in progress. / Mr. Whitlock said they should do all possible to get this scheme pushed forward concurrently with other schemes. A formation meeting of a Central Progressive League was being called shortly. This body would have an interest in this district as .well as Wellington, and was being formed to look after that portion of the country that was not affected by the Auckland League. As regards Waikaremoana, he drew the attention of the members to a statement made by Mr. J. P. Luke, M.P., Mayor of Wellington, in which he stated that the supply of electricity ; from Mangahao would only be sufficient for the domestic requirements of Wellington, and that the city would have to instal plant to maintain its cars and light the He was of opinion that if the league approached Wellington at this time I they would find that Wellington was prepared to work wholeheartedly with them. In view of the possibility of getting cheap electricity arrangements were being made for fee* tory sites in Palmerston and we were being left behind. They must insist that the scheme be started in conjunction with the other schemes. He had seen the result of cheap eleC- ’ tricity in Toronto, Canada, and there was no reason why we should not progress in the same way as they were. He also pointed out that.it wfluid be cheaper in the long run for> the Government to get the machinery for all the schemes at the one time instead of getting it for one <t a time. . Mr. Chadwick stated that . there > had been no lack of energy in this matter and the matter was still being pushed on. They\had the promises of Mr. Massey to go on and they were going to keep on pushing the matter. . Mr. Ashcroft stated that Mr. Whitlock’s remarks proved what they had been saying all the time, namely that the Mangahao scheme was tee Wellington, and was not sufficient for that, and the smaller places such, as Master ton would not get much' supply from there. This would show these places that they must throw in their lot with Waikaremoana. He concluded: Mr. Luke’s. remarks are very cheering from our point of view. Mr Chadwick: Wellington will have to get about £200,000 worth of steam , plant to carry on their street car services and street lighting even if? they-get Mangahao. ly was decided that Messrs.- Chadwick and Whitlock be asked to interview the Mayor of Wellingtqn when in Wellington at the end of. February, and also to make inquiries as to the Progressive League. • Mr. Beamish stated a meeting was to be held in Wairoa, in connection, i with Waikaremoana, and the pro-, I position to be brought forward was,, .either to have the work done by the i Government, or for the public bodies [to form a Power Board with a view , i to the Government taking the works over at face value. , ■ NEXT MEETING. It was decided to hold the next meeting of the committee in April.