ELECTRIC POWER

Northern Advocate, 23 October 1935, Page 2

ELECTRIC POWER

THE PLIGHT OF KAITAIA concerW op town board. The following letter has been sent to the Chief Electrical Engineer for the Public Works Department by the Kaitaia Town Board:— “Ffbm information received, it appears that consideration of bur application for a loan for the purposes of a hydro-electric scheme for Kaitaia will be deferred, pending conferences and investigations relating to. Arapuni power for the North. “This board, therefore, asks that you consider recommending the Loans Board to consider our application at the earliest opportunity, , instead of awaiting ahy decision that iMy be made regarding the probability of supply frOm Arapuni, on the following grounds:— “(1) That, in any case, we will require money to reticulate the area, and this town is how at a stage where the whole community is placed at a very; great disadvantage in not having power available, and the longer that disadvantage holds the general , progress of the town is held up, “(2) We submit that our scheme is a sound one, and, bOing placed as we are, this board feels that in any event there could be no harm done by the scheme being considered as soon as possible. Should it be deemed necessary, we could be granted a concession until such time as Arapuni power can be made available, and in the meantime we could have a definite load set up. “(3) This board has an offer from a private company to supply power at a very favourable figure for a time, and even this course would enable us to have a supply and build up a load. The cost of material is a big consideration, and is now showing signs of the upward movement, and this - board would like to take advantage cf the market and the Unemployment Board —advantages that are at., present available—and thereby keep the cost of the scheme down for the consumers concerned. “This is the most northern town in New Zealand, and Is now at a stage that power and other conveniences usually available in any progressive township are 1 definitely needed, and, in fact, the Want of which is tending to hold back the progress of Kaitaia.” Mr Peace, the delegate to the Ohaeawai Conference, reported fully on the discussion and decision. 1 It was decided that Mr Peace be appointed the permanent representative of the board.on the provisional comrhittee.