STRATFORD’S LIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1923, Page 6

STRATFORD’S LIGHT.

SUGGESTION TO SCRAP PLANT. POWER FROM TARIKL (From Our Own Reporter.) .Stratford, July 10. Alien considering the electrical engineer’s report at the meeting of the Borough Council la<st night, Cr. C. Finnerty moved that the council secure the advice of the beat engineer obtainable to report upon the condition of the borough electrical plant, and, in view of the fact that the loan for the Tariki scheme had now been carried, to Inquire if it would not be advisable to scrap their plant and link up with Tariki. The Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan): “Do you realise how much it will cost?” Cr. Finnerty: “The cost is immaterial.” He said the council had made a serious blunder in not supporting the Tariki scheme from the first. The-Mayor pointed out that a previous resolution had instructed their own engineer, whom he considered fully competent, to bring down a report. The idea of employing an outside engineer was absurd, and would probably cost £5OO, besides the expense of scrapping the existing equipment. Cr. Finnerty: “I want an unbiassed man to submit a comprehensive report. The council wants to stir itself up.” “It should have stirred itself upyears ago and never bought the plant, said the Mayor. Cr. E. S. Rutherfurd said the overload was not a very serious matter, because the Tat-iki. scheme would have its power on the market within two years, and the Act allowed them to link up at any time. The Stratford plant -was producing current nearly as cheaply as Tariki would, and if scrapped the council would have to find about £lOOO a year interest on electric loans and have nothing to show for it. Cr. T. I. Lamason thought it would be advisable to scrap the whole plant at once. It could barely cope with the requiretnents in its present overloaded condition. Cr. Finnerty gave notice to move that the existing resolution calling for a report from their own engineer -be rescinded so that he might move his motion.