HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17754, 13 April 1921, Page 7

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

MANUKAU COUNCIL'S VIEW.

ISTHMUS BOARD FAVOURED.

DISPUTANTS CRITICISED. I The proposed Hydroelectric Power Board for the Auckland isthmus was the j subject of a discussion by the Manukau County Council yesterday. Mr. F. M. Waters, referring to the difference of opinion over the question of j establishing one board for the isthmus, said it was characteristic of the people that whenever anything of importance to the city was proposed it generally brought interested parties into conflict. He said the scheme was one which concerned the people as a whole very much, and he con- I sidered the local bodies should sink their differences and endeavour to expedite its development, and thus not allow Auckland to lag behind other centres. j Mr. S. W. House stated that represen- ! tatives of the Onehunga and Mount Eden I Borough Councils and the Mayor of Auckland had interviewed the Hon. J. G. j Coates in support of the respective | schemes, and the Minister had stated that no permits for the establishment of power hoards in the Auckland district would be gTanted until after he had i again conferred with the parties inI terested Mr. A. D. Bell, chairman of the council, said it was evident the Government desired to see the local bodies come to an amicable agreement on the matter. There | appeared to be a disinclination on the i part of the local bodies concerned to ac- | quire the electric power plant of the City Council, notwithstanding that the Government engineer had pronounced it to be one of the best of its kind in the Dominion. Mr. Waters said there could be no objection to acquiring the plant, and he contended that it was only a business proposition that the purchasers should take over all the assets on a reasonable basis. After further discussion, it was decided to forward the following resolution to the Minister : —" That this council views with alarm the delay that has been caused in connection with the establishment of one comprehensive scheme for the Auck land district, and respectfully asks the Minister to use his best endeavours to expedite matters."