POWER IN THE NORTH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 638, 15 April 1929, Page 12

POWER IN THE NORTH

INCREASING BOARD’S AREA CONFERENCE AT DARGAYiLLE

(From Ou>' Own Correspondent) DARGAYILLE, Sunday. Ah important conference concerning Lb* linking up of the Hobson, Whangarei and Otamatea counties with hydro -electricity was held yesterday. Those present were: —Messrs. J. A. McLean (chairman), E. G. Appleton, W. I*. Begg, J. G. Barclay, J. H. McCarroll and F. J. Dargaville (representing the Hobson Electric-Power Board): L. Webb, L. A. Johnson, JA. Mackay and J. H. Hayward (the Whangarei County Council), W. Collins, W. Betts and W. Hislop (Otamatea County Council); T. R. Overtoil (consulting engineer), R- -A- ?°J} es (Mayor of Dargaville), M. C. Astley (solicitor to Hobson Power Beard), vY . Harris and H. Hemphill (engineer and clerk respectively to Whangarei County Council), R. J. Baff and E.G. Aicken (engineer and clerk to Otamatea County Council), and B. b. Angus (secretary to Hobson ElectricPower Board). The scheme was for the constitution, under one power board, of the areas controlled by the three bodies which have been covered by load surveys. . i The following resolution, proposed by Mr. McLean (who presided), and seconded by Mr. J. H. McCarroll, was unanimously adopted:—“That this meeting of the Hobson ElectricPower Board, Whangarei County Council and Otamatea County Council, considers that the time is now ripe for the enlargement of the Hobson Electric-Power Board’s area by the inclusion of such portions of the Whangarei and Otamatea Counties as shall comply with the Electric-Power Boards Act, and that this meeting recommends county councils mentioned to take steps immediately to circularise portions of their district with the object of joining up with the Hobson Electric-Power Board as soon as possible.” The chairman stated that the figures showed that almost double the Government’s requirements for supply of power could be obtained. Mr. Overton favoured the idea of one big board.