THE WAIPORI ENTERPRISE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20643, 15 February 1929, Page 3

THE WAIPORI ENTERPRISE.

TO THE EDITOa. Slßj—There are several points on which ratepayers would need light before agreeing to a sale of the Waipori head-works to the loverumeiit. There is the case of Akaroa township, which had a nice little power generating station. It provided cheap power, and returned a nice surplus to the Akaroa Council. It sold to one of the Government power boards, and a ratepayer says that the price of powc has now been raised, and the yearly surplus now goes into the Power Board's pockets. Coming nearer home, we have the case of the Otago Tower Board. The writer was told by a circular from this board that it would cost just as much to have a house at Karitane connected. After a- year or so the board announced that it cr-ld not make ends meet at the price, and prices were therefore raised. Is Dunedin going to be treated in this way.' As to the fact of the output not being able to cope with the demand ou Waipori, surely this ie a better position than having power waiting for consumers to come alone. Also, it is no great hardship as a rule to wait for a tiling you have never enjoyed. If there is to be any waiting it could be done K- those outside towns that are supplied from Waipori, for which Waipori was not installed. It is likely that Waipori has set out to provide for .norc towns thaiiMvns originally intended. \s far as the finance of any scheme is rotuerned, there is no donl.it that Dunedin can manage just as well as the Government, and if the matter of general management is f-oncerned, one has onlv to look at the Southland Power Board '-and the Arapnni works to know that Dtmcdin can manage considerably better than the Government. Dunedin has the cheapest power in New Zealand, and her manufacturers need it •as a 6et off against high harbour board rates and lack of shipping facilities. From every point of view. I am in favour of the present position.—l am. etc., LIGIIT. Dunedin, February 13.