HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 1979, 22 November 1921, Page 3

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

i■ » ■ liAST MEETING OF PROVISIONAL COMMITTEE. PREPARATIONS FOR BOARD COMPLETE. A short meeting of the ManawatuOroua Electric Power District Provisional Committee was held yesterday. Present: Messrs J. A. Nash, M.P. (chairman), J. S. Tingey, J. Morrison, O. McElroy, D. Collis, J. Boyce, L. McLeavey, J. Linklater, M. H. Oram, A. Francis, H.- H. Hunt and Sir James Wilson. The chairman reported that this would be the last meeting of the Provisional Committee, as the position now was that all the petitions asking for the formation of the Board were duly completed, and they must now be forwarded for approval to the Public Works Department, together with the plans. The Public Works Department would then, through an Order-in-Council, make the necessary proclamation if they found everything in order. There was no doubt about that because arrangements had been made with the Department and The plans would be accepted. Tno Department would then select the date for the election of the Hoard. He thought it would be best to forward the plans, etc., to the Department with the request that the election of the Board should take place as soon as possible, i In reply to Sir James Wilson, the chairman said the Department would fix the date of election themselves, but if the committee made a recommendation on the subject, no doubt the Department would fall into line with it. In reply to Mr Oram he said that there was no specified interval after the receipt of the plans, in which to hold the election. It was decided to ask the Department to allow the election to be held before December 20. The chairman raised the question as to whether the surplus funds held by the committee should be handed over to the Board or returned by the committee to the different local authorities from whom they were on loan. Mr Oram suggested that it would be better to hand the money over to the Board for distribution to the contributory local bodies. The secretary (Mr Charles Hubbard) reported that the balance" in hand was £179. On the motion of Sir James Wilson, it was decided to vote th<j secretary the sum of £IOO, in recognition of his services, and a vote of appreciation of his work was. passed. It was also decided to ask members to put in accounts for travelling expenses, and to hand the balance of the cash in hand over to the Board when elected. The question of an honorarium for the chairman was raised, but he declined to accept any remuneration for his services. The chairman returned thanks to members of the committee for their co-operation and support in regard to the work for the formation. of the Board. Matters, he said, did not look very promising at the commencement of negotiations, but_members had. .been able to sink their dfffer\ences and get to work, with the result that great strides had been made. It now only remained for the Board to be set up as soon as possible. In moving a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman, which was carrieclN iby acclamation, Mr McElroy said the Icommitteg had been exceptionally fortunate in having the services of such a man as chairman.