THE POWER BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18019, 18 February 1922, Page 8

THE POWER BOARD.

Almost literally at the eleventh hour the Mount Eden Borough Council has resolved upon an important modification of its policy in regard to the distribution of electricity within the borough. Under the legislation which forms the char ter of tho Auckland Power Board, the constituent local authorities were given an option for 30 days to decide whether they would purchase power in bulk and undertake the distribution within their own districts, or entrust the whole responsibility to the board. The Mount Eden Council decided last evening, with only I two dissentient votes, not to give any notice under tho Act, the effect I of this being to delegate to the board both the right and the responsibility to supply the borough's re quirements. From the outset the J council has been inclined to pursue i an independent policy, and while it i clung for some time to the idea of a : separate scheme for the generation of power, it has been even more j reluctant to surrender the reticuj lation of its district to another ! authority. This attitude has probably been due to a tendency to regard the power board as an external instead of a comprehensive body, and, to some extent, to a hasty presumption that the council would be , able to carry out the reticulation of j the borough as cheaply as the board could, and more completely than the latter would attempt. A closer investigation of the technical and engineering aspects and a better appreciation of the board's functions have led the council to reconsider its policy. It has made a concession—probably less important in material consequences than it presumes—to tho principle of cooperation in the interests of tho whole community to be served by the power board, and its decision should certainly receive the approval of the people of Mount Eden, as it will be generally endorsed by all who are interested in the success of this large and important undertaking.