POWER SUPPLY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 91, 17 March 1936, Page 5

POWER SUPPLY

ANOMALY IN THE SOUTH. Per Press Association. OAMARU, March 16. During his short stay in Oamaru this afternoon, Hon. R. Semple (Minister of Public Works) received a deputation from the Woitaki Electric Power Board in reference to the difficulty experienced in giving electric power to the residents of Haifa Valley. Mr McUiannid, chairman of the board, said Hakataramea, unfortunately was isolated in regard to the supply of electricity. It was not m the Waitnki area, but really in the South Canterbury board’s area, but that hoard had found it impossible to meet the needs of the residents, whoso community of interest lay with Oamaru. The Waitaki hoard were anxious to give these residents electric supply, hut while the power lines ran across these people’s properties they could not get electric supply. To do so would involve the hoard in an expenditure of £2OOO, but the guarantees available would meet a liability of only £I4OO of the capital outlay. That sum was required for materials and £6OO was required for labour, hoard and transport, and they appealed lo the Minister to meet them in their difficulty. If the Labour Department would undertake the work at a cost of £6OO it would solve their trouble. Mr Semple said it seemed absurd that power should go past people’s properties and they could not get it. He was not, however. Minister for Unemployment. but he would have a personal interview with Hon. H. T. Armstrong and go into the matter with him.