POWER BOARD UNITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18019, 18 February 1922, Page 10

POWER BOARD UNITY.

MT. EDEN ACCEPTS SCHEME.

NEW ATTITUDE EXPLAINED.

BOARD TO RETICULAR;.

ONLY TWO OBJECTORS. The electrical reticulation of the Mount Eden Borough is to be carried out by the Auckland Power Board and not by the council as was originally intended. This decision was reached last evening by the Borough Council at a special meeting attended by the Mayor, Mr. J. W. Shackelford, and Messrs. W. Woolley, J. Smith, G. L. Taylor, T. McNab, J. W. Haramill, J. M. Melville, L. Joll, J. P. Hooton and E. H. Potter. The Mayor said the question of reticulating tho borough was considered at the ordinary council meeting on Monday evening, hut decision was deferred until a special committee had conferred with tho Mayor of Auckland on the subject. The lonfcrence was held that afternoon. They had gone very fully into the question Mid if the council now decided to do its own reticulation, notice to that effect must be lodged at the Town Hall before 12 o'clock nest day. So far as the committer could gather," if tho council did its own reticulation it would be the only local body in tho Power Board area to do so,

City Council to Call Tenders. There were certain advantages to he gained by the council doing its own work, Mr. Shackelford continued, but what bad fo be considered was whether these advantages would be greater than those to he gained by joining in with the Power Board and letting it do the reticulating. Mr. Gunson was prepared to make recommendations to th a City Council that tenders should be called for the supply of Material for the reticulation of a number of districts, including the" Mount Eden Borough. Theso tenders would be returnable to tho Power Board whoso duty it would be to make provision for the Mount Eden district. Mr. Gunson made it per-' fecUy clear that he could not commit the Power Board, but he hud no doubt that the board would carrv out tho council's Wishe^ "We have held tenaciously to the proposal to do our own reticulation," Mr. Shackelford added, "because there would be considerable advantages to our borough if we did so. On the other hand, we have t.) consider that we are a party to the greater scheme, which embraces Auckland and the surrounding districts. There would be certain disadvantages in being 'the odd man out,' in being the only body doing its own reticulation. '

Co-operation Urged. Mr. Shackelford remarked that he was pleased with the attitude taken up by Mr, Gunson. He had certainly shown a strong front in trying to get favourable consideration so far as Horahora and Arapuni were conc-irned. Having heard what the Mayor of Auckland had to say oa. the subject, he thought the council would be well advised ti fall into line with the other local bodies and allow the borough to be reticulated under the one general scheme. Mr. McNab said Mi'. Gunson's promise was a very fair one. He moved that the iwticnlation of the borough be done by tie Jhwer Board. Mr. Smith, in seconding the motion, said that from what had been stated he gathered that the whole borough was assured of lighting as soon as any other place. Mr. Melville said he stood for what had always been his view on tie question, He recognised there were advantages in joining in with the Power Board, but it was a matter whether, as a council, they were to be influenced by this, or whether they were,to consider the interests of the ratepayers. He was opposed to the motion.

Representation en Board. Mr. Taylor said the Mayor's statement had thrown a new light on the issue as it appeared to him a few weeks ago. In these circumstances he believed the council would have some difficulty in getting the ratepayers to sanction a loan if it stood out arid decided to do ita own reticulating. Then again, he doubted if they would secure representation on the Power Board. Mr. Potter said in this big scheme the interests of all the local bodies were identicaL It was known that the Government was prepared to supply hydro-electricity, and the steam plant would merely be a stand-by. They would be able to get hydro-electricity at a very much lower price. Mr. Jofl said the council, in view of the information it had. could not turn down the scheme proposed to be carried out by the Power Board. Mr. Hammill said the council had not been shown that it was going to get any advantages from tho Power Board. The statement merely was that the board would reticulate the borough. He considered the advantages the board would get by reticvilatiajr the borough should be held by the council. On a vote being taken, the motion was carried, Messrs. Hainmill and Melville Toting agdnst it.

Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, chairman of the Electricity and Tramways Committee of the City Council, has been nominated as a candidate for the Auckland Hydro-Electric Power Board.