Win Bring Power To Sparsely Settled Areas

Northern Advocate, 26 July 1945, Page 2

Win Bring Power To Sparsely Settled Areas

(Special) KAIKOHE. This Day Sympathy with out-back settiers in sparsely-settled areas received practical expression at the Bay of Islands Power Board meeting this week, when if was resolved to take steps to bring power to two districts for which it appeared that revenue would be short of the usual required .15 per cent of capital outlay. Puketona, in the Bay of Islands County, had been surveyed for reticulation of power, and the consulting engineer to the board (Mr. Lloyd Mandeno) reported that a deficiency of £5 in the required revenue was estimated. The Kohumaru-Fern Flat area, in Mangonui County, had not been surveyed, but a preliminary estimate showed a deficiency of £26. Both districts. it was stated by members, were old settlements with a sparse population dcnsily. Mr. K. H. McKenzie considered these might be cases where tire board’s reserves could reasonably be tapped to bridge the gap between actual and required revenue. The board would not lose on the proposition in the long run. and it would be providing a muchneeded facility which the farmers in those districts truly deserved.

Several other methods of financing were discussed, and a number of speakers stated their sympathy with the outlying or sparsely-populated areas. Mr. H- H. Mountain’s motion that the board go ahead with reticulation plans at Puketona, and with a formal survey of Kohumaru and Fern Flat was carried unanimously.