ELECTRIC POWER FOR THE TAIERI.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18867, 21 May 1923, Page 10

ELECTRIC POWER FOR THE TAIERI.

to tub aniTom. Sir, —As one who has been interested in the bringing in of electric power and light to the lower end of the Taieri Plain for many years, permit me a word on the question of the control of the power—the City Corporation or a Power Board? Mr Strack asks why the settlers have not taken advantage of the power and light that have passed their doors for well on to 20 years. I will tell him. The terms and conditions on which the corporation offered to supply us were absolutely prohibitive. Fancy asking a few to pay for the whole cost of the line in four years, when, after that, anyone could have come in at very little expense. Mr M’Kegg and myself told Mr Shaoklock and Mr Henderson to charge interest and depreciation only, but they would not shift at that time. I suppose two reasons influenced them. They wore not anxious to take risks, and there was a shortage of water to generate the power at Waipori, Quite recently, however, the corporation has altered its terms altogether. It- now offers to supply the Taieri with power and light on terms that will make the supply the cheapest, I think, in ■ any country district in New Zealand. At the same time, the South Otago Power Board comes along with a proposition to take the Taieri in with the other districts it wishes to supply. Now I ask, Why should the people here give up a really good proposition to benefit other_ districts? South Otago started a Hospital Board on its own because it thought they could run it more cheaply, and more' efficiently than under the previous system and thus imposed additional rates on the Taieri. Because we are nearer the seat of electric energy and thus can bo supplied cheaper, we should not be asked to pay for those further away. If we get cheap power we also get the wafer that generates it in the shape of the floods that are too well known. Through these same floods our lands must be written down in value,,, and the power and light coming in cheaply will help to redeem them a little. I do not wish to run the Power Board down, ns;, it can operate in other districts if it likes; but. for the Taieri, I say, “Let the City Corporation finance and run the scheme.” In conclusion, I would say to Mr Blackie that there is no need to introduce the personal element, as in the statement that' Mr Strack is not a ra’tepayor. We have plenty of arguments without that. Moreover, if Mr Strack is not a ratepayer fie is not going to participate in benefits such as we shall do, and therefore shows a good spirit in taking so much interest in, and devoting so much work to, the Power Board scheme. If the Power Board project has been the means of shaking un the City .Corporation to give us the offer it has,' then it has conferred a great boon on the Taieri. Let the promoters bo thanked and, paid out-of-pocket expenses, and then let 'them cease their, operations on the Taieri;—l am, etc., Edwin Smith.