“50 PER CENT ARE INTELLIGENT”

Northern Advocate, 9 January 1936, Page 8

“50 PER CENT ARE INTELLIGENT”

BOROUGH COUNCIL AND ELECTRICITY

N.A. POWER BOARD AND SUPPLY QUESTION [Special to "Northern Advocate.”! DARGAVILLE. This Day. WHANGAREI, AND ESPECIALLY VV THE WHANGAREI BOROUGH COUNCIL, WAS VERY MUCH TO THE FOREFRONT IN A LONG DISCUSSION AT YESTERDAY’S MEETING OF THE NORTH AUCKLAND ELECTRIC POWER BOARD. The prelude to the discussion was the chairman’s report on the recent conference between the Power Board and the Whangarei Borough .Council. Although the report was read at the meeting, its publication was not permitted.

The difficulty, or rather the question, to be decided between the two parties is the basis upon which the borough is to purchase power from the board. The borough is evidently opposed To the board retailing power within the borough’s area, and is desirous of purchasing in bulk and retailing the power itself. The borough and their past and present attitude to the activities of the board came in for some stringent criticism at the hands of several members. “Nothing To Offer.” Mr W. Collins; “In moving that the Power Board enters into no agreement, either definite or implied, with the Whangarei Borough Council, I do so with the knowledge that I will probably not get a seconder to the motion. “At present we have nothing to offer, and, considering the treatment we have received at the hands of Whangarei in the past, I do not think we can get any further. » “I, therefore, fail to see why we should tie ourselves down to any agreement.” In seconding the motion, Mr J. H. IvlcCarroll (Hobson) said he did so in order that the motion could be discussed. Mr J. A. S. Mac Kay: “In order that the borough should take supply from the board, It will be necessary to give the Portland Cement Company notice, and, if we are going to have power here in 18 months’ time, the sooner we arrive at a basis for negotiation the better for all concerned. ,-“We are not going to give anything away. Mr Overton should be able to arrive at a basis for discussion. I think the sooner we come to an understanding with the borough the better for ourselves. Has the borough any power to force us to supply electricity at a fixed price?” Borough Has No Rights. Mr Overton; “The borough has no rights until it forms part of the board’s area. Until it joins it has no power at all.” Mr J. N. McCarroll: “Could the Government force us to supply?” Mr Overton: “No.”

Mr J. N. McCarroll said he 'did not like the resolution, and moved as an amendment; “That the question be postponed until next meeting and until Mr Dawson and Mr Overton have conferred on the matter; Mr Overton to report at the next meeting of the board.” Mr Collins, with the consent of his seconder, withdrew his motion.

In answer to the chairman, Mr Ovet’tori said neither the borough nor the Government had any power to compel the board to sell power at a lower price than they paid for it. Mr Collins: “I hope the time will come when the borough will come into the scheme, and we will all stand together. I hope we can supply Whangarei at the best terms to both parties.”

Will Not Allow Retail Sale. The chairman: “From what the Mayer of Whangarei said they have evidently decided that they are not going to allow the Power Board to sell power retail in Whangarei. “I can quite understand their attitude as the profits they have made out of the sale of electricity in recent years have been enormous. I am not in a position to say more at present. “From our point of view, it would be good business if we could sell our power retail in Whangarei, but from what I know they have no intention of allowing us to do so.” Mr J. N. McCarroll: “There have been changes taking place, and people are now realising that the board is a body of some substance, and, at the present time, 50 per cent of the Whangarei Borough Council are intelligent m e n.” The question of amalgamation must come about. The spirit of the Act was that the boroughs should come in and help the outside districts, and the 50 per cent of intelligent men on the council understood that. He was sure there was no doubt that the borough would eventually come in.” The chairman said that Mr Dawson, engineer to the borough, would "be in Dargaville that afternoon to discuss the question with Mr Overton, and, after further discussion, the motion was carried unanimously.

ALL AT SEA ?