MATTER OF POLICY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 55, Issue 32713, 15 May 1946, Page 7

MATTER OF POLICY

DIVIDED OPINION VALLEY POWER BOARD SUPPLY FOR NEW QUARRY A lively debate on a matter of policy ensued at the May meeting of the Thames Valley Electric Power Boasd when Messrs P. R. Hawke and J. Pohlen advocated the supply of power to the quarry face of a new quarry to be opened by Messrs Grinter Bros, at Te Poi, Matamata.

Finally the matter was put to the vote, the chairman, Mr J. Price, refraining from voting since he supported the application. However, when the votes were even, he cast his vote against the motion. Immediately notice of motion was given by Mr H. M. Corbett to rescind the motion only just passed that Grinter ■Bros, take supply at the board’s main, on the grounds that one member of the board was absent and other (members might prefer an interval to enquire into the matter. In moving the resolution that Messrs Grinter 'Bros, be given’supply right to the quarry, instead of at the board’s nearest lines’ two miles away, Mr Hawke said that inspection of the quarry had shown that the metal was first-class and existed in large quantity. It was, however, high up on the face of a cliff, and if power was nol supplied to a crusher on the quarry site, the handling of the metal between the quarry and a crusher two miles away would mean a large increase in the price of the metal. Road surfacing material was one of the foremost requirements today in the Matamata district, and Mr Hawke, who was supported in the same strain by Mr iPohlen,. considered that the Board should supply power to the quarry site to lower the cost of this metal to county ratepayers who were also ■consumers. 'Mr Price and Mr W. S. IG'oosman, MJP., also supported the motion. “Apparently the board has changed its policy, has done an ‘about-face,’ since similar applications were considered,” said Mr C. iC. Webb, member for Paeroa Borough. “Grinter Bros, certainly won’t lose money on the deal even if they have to cart the metal — they’ll pass it on to the ratepayers. However, that is not so much the point. Former Application “S'ome time ago,” continued Mr Webb, “an application 'of the same nature was received from Komata Quarries, who required power at their' quarry site a mile from the board’s lines. This application was •turned down, and they now cart to their crusher on the main road. What is the reason for this aboutface ? Apparently the members for the Komata area are not as vociferous as those for Matamata. I hold no brief for Komata Quarries, but they certainly obeyed the board’s instructions.”

The position was not the same, said Mr Goosmdn. At the Te Poi quarry the face was some hundreds of feet up, and spawls from it could not be easily loaded. It would cost another 2/6 per’yard to handle the material, in his opinion. If the board had made a mistake in its policy in the past, he questioned whether it should continue to do so. The only practicable thing was to change its policy.

“I agree that tw'o wrongs do. not make a right,” remarked Mr W. C. Kennedy, “but I think the position in regard to the Komata quarry, and the Shaftesbury quarry in which the iPiako County i.s interested, was that neither men nor materials were available for the extension at rhe time their applications were received.” Same Conditions Today Mr H. L. Boughton (Waihi): This is an about-face of policy. Mr Hawke and the other speakers cannot indicate where there is any difference ■between the conditions of today and those existing when the other applications were turned down.. I see no ■reason why we should continue with a mistaken policy, but until it can ■be proved that it is mistaken I shall vote against this proposal. One aspect of the matter was, said, •Mr Price, that if a mistake had been made in the past by executive officers. of whom he was one, a stand ■must be taken sooner or later to remedy that mistake. 'On this occasion those who had inspected the Te Poi quarry asked whether it was not time to change the policy. “The board has agreed to supply power to rehabilitation farms,” said the manager, Mr R. Sprague. “The material position is th?. same today as

it was two years ago, and the question is whether the power is going to be given to those farms or to quarries.” Important Industry Mr Goosman: We’ve heard board mem’. ers advocating shifting industries from the cities to the country. This is one of the most important country industries, and it is our ■duty as a board to foster it. Grinter Bros, ar? probably going to spend £lO,OOO on opening that quarry, and they would not do that unless they saw prospects of success. As far as the hoard is concerned there is no risk, and in my view the board will not be doing its duty if it refuses power for the quarry. When the motion to extend the lines to the quarry was put to the vote, five, Messrs Hawke, Pohiem Goosman. Kennedy and Corbett, were for, and l five, Messrs Boughton, Mayn, McCollum, Barrett and Webb, against. Mr Price, who had refrain,ed from voting, then cast his vote against the resolution, following which Mr Corbett moved his notice of motion and Mr Boughton seconded it. Mr Price in exercising his vote said he was not prepared to change the policy of the board without a vote in favour of doing so.