HAVELOCK NORTH TOWN BOARD.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 237, 19 September 1922, Page 5

HAVELOCK NORTH TOWN BOARD.

(To the Editor;) Sir,—ln your last issue there appeared three letters irom caudidatee lor seats on the Havelock North Town Board, aud in each case the writer Stresses the pcint that it is necessary to fully develop our hydro-electric scheme and to reduce the price of current to tne Havelock North residents. Now, Sir, as members of the old board who brought in the scheme, we wish to point uut that the total interest on the hydro-electricity loans amounts to £1650 per annum, and the policy of the board has always been to make users of current paj Lnis amount on the basis of the amount consumed. If we could sell current u> our residents at 2d per unit or even less and at the same time pay the £1650 interest on the loun we should bd delighted to do it, bnt we are absolutely opposed U> any reduction which is going to bring the total salens to under £1650 and thus call on the already heavily-rated ratepayers Jo find th© money to pay the balance. We submit, Sir, that we have givevn long and earnest considei>tiQn to the whole scheme and have made the best poasible bargain with outsiders in ordfr to make the scheme pay the owners (the Havelock ratepayers), but m practically every house in Havelock is already connected at 7d per unit for light and 4d per unit for power we cannot at present see how we can reduce the price, even for power purposes, and still play the £ame with the ratepayers. Further, Sir, we realise that it ‘is necessary to make improvements in the village in the way of better roade, footpaths, channelling, etc.; but we cannot lose sight of the fact that there are only 263 ratepayers to foot the bill every time, and it is necessary to go carefully. Our own policy is to continue as we have begun, make the electric scheme a payable proposition, and, if possible, make improvements to the village as the money comes to hand. Those outside the board have no idea of the vast amount of work and thought we have given to the public affairs of Havelock, and we claim, Sir, that w*e are as anxious as anyone to see Havelock progress, but we want to see the town progress along sound lines, and our policy has always been real service first. \V r e are particularly anxious that attention should be to the cerftre of the village—in fact, a scheme is already practically complete for carrying out of this work. in conclusion, we wish to offer our services once more to the electors, and we solicit a further continuance of your confidence at to-morrow’s poll. j (Signed) A J. H. JOLL, L. T. COOPER, J. PHILLIPS, H. MOSSMAN, J. J. NIMON, P.M. SEFTON, Members of thetdd Board.