CUT OFF

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3139, 13 July 1942, Page 8

CUT OFF

TAURANGA ELECTRICITY CONCERN TO RESIDENTS ULTIMATUM BY THE P.W.D. At midnight on Tuesday, July 7, the Tauranga electric power supply was cut off by the Public Works Department. This was the result of a long dispute between the Tauranga Borough 'Council and the power board concerning the payment of several thousand pounds to the council for electricity purchased from the Public Works Department supplied to the power board.

Last Tuesday the Public Works Department presented ,a bill for £7OOO to the borough council, advising it Yha't if this money was not paid by 3 p.m., electric power would be cut off. 'By midnight it was still not paid, and. the supply ceased. The sudden cutting off of electricity caused much concern throughout the Tauranga district, and many settlers were alarmed at 'the turn of events.

Because efforts to bring about a settlement had failed, the borough council had decided some time ago that it could no longer supply electricity from the (Public Works Department. It notified the department and'the Electric Power Board of this decision about a year ago, and suggested direct negotiations between the two bodies. The board did not agree, • as it desired to continue to take a supply from the council at the cheap rate it had previously paid. This rate was less than the borough council was paying to the Public Works Department. No finality had been reached in this matter. The power board continued to use the 'Public Works Department’s Supply, but would not accept responsibility for payment. The Tauranga Borough Council said that the payment was no longei’ concerned with it, ’but was a matter for the power board to settle. A head was reached when the bill was presented as outlined.