HYDRO-ELECTRIC SCHEMES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19261, 27 August 1924, Page 7

HYDRO-ELECTRIC SCHEMES.

effect of present law. ' . AMEN LED LEGISLATION SOUGHT.,, - (Pee United Press Association.) - WELLINGTON, August 26 . An important point concerning the position of boroughs with gasworks being affected by hydic-electric schemes was raised by a deputation to the Minister of , Public 'Works to-day, which asked that this Minister should repeal section 4- of the j Electric Power Boards Amendment Act pf last year, authorising power boards to impose'special rates varying from £1 to £3O or. non-consumers of electricity. ‘ . - Mr Prague 11 (Mayer of Mastertop),Said the question at issue affected gat works undertakings in connection with municipalities. The Power Boards Conference had not intended the provision to apply to boroughs with gasworks. The clause was , put forward to meet the case of the Southland Board, ■which found that farmers in. certain areas would not take the power. He contended that the principle was wrong when given general application in the way set out in the Act. The Minister said the Act was in opera- > tion over the whole dominion, and ■; they , could not find a case where an injustice had been done. However, he would go into j the question of boroughs reticulated with ( gas. The Act was undergoing the test y of experience, and if it proved to be wrong . it could soon be altered.