ALSATIANS AND BONE

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 4884, 18 August 1936, Page 5

ALSATIANS AND BONE

POWER BOARD BOUNDARY QUESTION.

PLEA OF SETTLERS

"Forgive me if I draw the comparison of two large Alsatians on short chains and a juicy bone—we are the bone —and neither dog can get us," said Mr. B. Symes in a letter read at the Waitomo Power Board meeting on Monday. Though he did not specify who or what were the dogs, it was evident that he meant them to be the Waitomo and Te Awamutu Power Boards. He and 12 other settlers on the Otorohanga-Pirongia Road, which is in the Waitomo Board's area, but nearest the Te Awamutu Board's lines, wanted power, and asked the Waitomo Board to assist them to obtain it in some way or other.

The Te Awamutu Power Board wrote inquiring if the Waitomo Board had reached a decision on the terms for bulk supply of electricity to serve this area by Waitomo from the Te Awamutu lines. Mr. Lee said that in addition to the group of settlers near Mr. Symes, there were also those in the Honikiwi district. He suggested that the Government should be approached to see if assistance could be given to permit taking a line through a lean district near Otorohanga. Failing that, Waitomo should endeavour to obtain better terms to secure electricity from the Te Awamutu Board's lines —and if not successful there, to signify its intention of ceding the portion of its area near Mr. Symes, and Honikiwi as well. Mr. Simms -said there was difficult country in between the Boards' lines and Honikiwi, but if assistance could be obtained to cover this, sufficient load might be secured to warrant the expense.

It was reported that the price for power from the Te Awamutu Board's lines had been too high. A suggestion was made that the Public Works Department should arbitrate on the matter. After further discussion it was left to the chairman and secretary to interview the Public Works Department in Wellington to determine if assistance could be obtained if power were taken to Honikiwi, it being considered this was the only chance that district had of obtaining supply. A report on these representations is to be given at next meeting.