BUILDING PLANS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22694, 5 April 1937, Page 12

BUILDING PLANS

DECISION DEFEEEED DESIRE TO REDUCE COST FURTHER INVESTIGATION [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] DARG AVILLE, Saturday Although the March meeting of the North Auckland Electric-Power Board decided to have plans for new office premises drawn up and a report submitted, a full meeting of the board yesterday failed to agree on tho implementing of the project, and after a prolonged discussion it was decided to defer the question, until the following meeting. A special committee in the meantime is to investigate the possibility of a cheaper scheme. An amendment to defer tho matter for a year was lost on tho casting vote of tho chairman, Mr. J. A. McLean. " We have hero a blue print showing details of the ground floor of a proposed office, which is quite satisfactory," said the chairman. " The proposed building is 50ft. by 100 ft., and we would save 25 per cent on the cost of sand and shingle purchased in I)argaville against Whangarei prices. We have purchased a site and had an architect bring forward plans and specifications, so I move that tenders bo called for the erection of the building." In seconding tho motion, Mr. W. Montgomery said that it was time the board had a building in keeping with the work it had for its staff. Centre of Board's Area Mr. J. A. S. McKay, who was not present at the last meeting, said that in the absence of three members tho board had decided to have plans drawn up for tho erection of new premises. He thought that the whole board should discuss tho question, " What we require to do is to give the people electricity," ho said. " There is nothing to prevent this board carrying on for another two years in these premises, and then we would have means of knowing where the centre of this board will bo. If we go on the figures shown, there is nothing to support Dargaville's being the centre." "It is proposed to spend a minimum of £6500 (\n one side of the area," said Mr. W. Collins. " What of the other side? I will move as an amendment that the question of building offices and other accommodation bo deferred for another 12 months."

Mr. 11. EL Nesbitt seconded the amendment.

Mr. R. Coates: I oppose the amendment. Whether the head office is to be in Dargaville for a short or a long time is beside the question. We want efficiency and the conditions under which we are working at present are not conducive to efficiency. Even if in a few years the Whangarei borough comes in, we must have offices and a showroom here. Mr. E. G. Appleton: The only reason I could see to defer action would be if Whangarei were coming in in the near future, but as far as 1 can see there is no prospect of that for a number of years. Development Prospects " We know perfectly well that the offices are congested," said the chairman. " No district in New Zealand has prospects of greater development or greater increase in population than Northern Wairoa. It is estimated that we will have reticulated at least 2000 homes in the next 18 months. When saturation point is reached, we may have 2500 or 3000 receiving power from the board." The amendment was put to tho meeting and was lost on the casting vote of the chairman.

Mr. Coatcs then moved as a further •Amendment that the board defer the question until the next meeting and that the investigating committee go into the question of a cheaper price for the buildings and report. Mr. Appleton seconded the amendment, which was carried.

A motion dealing with the setting up of the whole board as a Finance Committee and a subsequent resolution appointing a special committee for that purpose were both rescinded in accordance with notice of motion given by Mr. W. Collins. A Finance Commttee, consisting of the chairman, Messrs. E. G. Appleton, L. W. Nelson and W. Collins, was elected.