AMALGAMATION

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 3373, 3 October 1931, Page 5

AMALGAMATION

THE WAITOMO-WAIRERE SCHEME. POSITION OF THE LATTER BOARD. The report of the conference between the Chief Electrical Engineer, Mr. Kissell, and members of the Waitomo and Wairere Power Boards held at Te Kuiti recently, when the question of the amalgamation of the two Boards was discussed, was tabled at yesterday's monthly meeting of the Wairere Power Board. (The report has already been considered by the Waitomo Power Board.) The chairman, Mr. E. Tolme, reviewed the issue of the conference as it affected the Board. Wairere, it was pointed out, needed further power, but the Department would not give its permission for further development at the Wairere Falls which had been hoped for. The suggestion had been made by Mr. Kissell that Wairere, in order to obtain further supply, might be able to tap the main line to Stratford when the new line from Arapuni which may pass near Ohura is put through. On the question of costs to the Wairere Board, the chairman _ explained that from the figures given, it would mean raising a loan of £IO,OOO to connect Wairere with the main line. In the event of the Board desiring to connect up, the department required a guarantee of not less than 300 k.v.a. at a cost of about £2BOO per annum to the Board. Comparing these figures with those appertaining to the Board's present operations, the chairman set out that whereas it was now costing the Wairere Board about £IOOO a year to develop its 400 k.v.a. load, the charge for 300 k.v.a. from the Government would be £2BOO, £IBOO more per annum for 100 k.v.a. less than the Board was developing itself. With these facts in view, it would be unwise to do anything in the matter, the chairman considered, as the settlers would be unable to stand the cost, a view also which was shared by other members.