THAT GUARANTEE.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2646, 15 May 1923, Page 3

THAT GUARANTEE.

QUESTION OF MANGAHAO "JUICE." The question of the guarantee asked by the Public Works Department of the Manawatu-Oroua Electric PowerBoard concerning the supply of 'juice' from Mangahao, still occupies a place on the order paper at the Board meetings, and yesterday's instalment was in the nature of a letter from the Public Works Department, asking for a reply as to whether the Board was prepared to give the guarantee, as asked for.

In this connection, correspondence was received from the Wairarapa Power Board stating that the Board was again communicating with the Public Works Department re power from Mangahao, and asking if the Board would support another- deputation to the Minister regarding the guarantee. Mr I. R. Robinson, assistant engineer of the Public Works Department, (hydro branch), who had been invited briefly to address the meeting by Mr Nash, said that if the Department was going to keep the power for the board, it seemed only reasonable that the Board should pay. The Department was just a little dubious as to whether the allocation could be taken up. Two of the Boards had got their works so far completed that they were able safely to accept the allocation suggested. Another board, however, which wa.s practically on a parallel with the Manawatu-Oroua Power Board, had agreed to take a reduced supply. He thought the Department would meet the local board in just the same way, as far as the industrial load was concerned. He, did not think the Department would expect the Board to pay for more "juice" than it was consuming, but would like it to take a smaller allocation. Mr Robinson explained that it was necessary that the Department should know just how it was .going to stand in the matter of future supplies. Mr Nash asekd if the Department would give the board time to build up a big industrial load to see if it would be necesasry to add to the allocation, and Mr Robinson said he thought this could be done.

The chairman said that they vould try and arrive at some decision at the next meeting, and in the interim he would confer with the Minister. In regard to the letters from the Wairarapa Power Board, it was deluded to support them.