ELECTRICAL CONTROVERSY

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1929, Page 6

ELECTRICAL CONTROVERSY

ATTITUDE OF THE BOROUGH. PROTEST BY COUNCILLOR. Hawera’s present bone of contention, electric light and power, was before the Borough Council at its meeting last night, when Cr. AV. G. Simpson sought information in reference to the council’s consent given at the previous meeting, from which he was a'bsent, to the South Taranaki Power Board’s application to the Local Loans Board. He thought the council had given its consent to something with which councillors were not officially acquainted, and in his opinion the adoption of such a course was wrong.

The Mayor (Mr. E. A. Pacey, a member of the Board) explained that the consent was merely a formality relating to consent to the matter going before the Loans Board. Cr. Simpson appeared to have misunderstood the position, he said. Cr. North stated that the Power Board appeared to be using the consent of the council and of other local bodies as evidence that the local bodies were behind the undertaking. A voice: Propaganda! The Mayor: As the matter is a formal one, it does not affect the views of councillors on the question. Correspondence requesting and giving the consent was read, the Mayor remarking that those who were at the meeting had acted as they thought best, and that it was hardly fair that they should be taken to task' by those who were absent. He was of opinion that they should not oppose the application to the Loans Board. Cr. AV. G. Walkjey said it was most improper that the chairman of the 'board should publicly state that the council approved of the scheme when it had only consented to the application to the Loans Board. The Mayor: lam not the chairman of the board. Cr. Simpson said the board was wrong, in not •bringing the matter officially before the council before seeking its consent. In closing the discussion Cr. North briefly traced the history of the matter. He was firmly of opinion that it should not go out to the public that the Borough Council had approved of the scheme when it had not done so.

CORRESPONDENCE. i ELECTRIC LIGHT. (To the Editor.) Sir, —In answer to the letter signed “One of the Community,” I think it is easy to pick the writer. He might as well have signed his name. If I said “Whatever we do must be in the- best interests of Hawera,” I most certainly meant Hawera and power board district. It is not a question of power or nopower. Should the poll be carried, then it will be necessary for the power board to buy additional power from the Government. In the event of the poll being lost then the electric company will be the purchaser of extra power to enable them to attend to requirements of Waiinato West and other parts, I am the last person to put town against country. Our interests are so interwovefi that you cannot separate them. The more labour saving appliances we can give the man on the land the better. Anything wo can do tc lighten his burden and encourage others to go on the land should be done. The question is, will the power board give us better service, cheaper light and power, make greater effort to supply all parts of the power board district than the electric company, taking into consideration that the electric company has already agreed to take extra current from the Government to enable it to extend its operations? The crux of the matter is that if the board takes over there is the chance of an availability rate, or in any event a rate that may never be collected but a charge on the land nevertheless. The other side is no risk of any rate.—l am, etc.,

E. DIN ON. Hawera, July 15. EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FUND. SYMPATHETIC COMMITTEE'S WORK Results of the Hawera Women’s-Sym-pathetic Committee’s efforts to raise

Total (handed Alayor’s fund) £199 14 2 The expenditure was nil. There is a further sum of £3 promised to Miss Corrigan which is yet to be collected.

MINIATURE RIFLE CONTESTS. HAWERA CLUB’S ACTIVITIES. Very close shooting was witnessed at the Ilawera Miniature Rifle Club’s range, when three buttons were fired for, all being lost, two by default. Results were: — Men’s Buttons. —-L. Uttinger 49, A. Wilson 48, J. Velvin 47, J. Vinten 47, G. Harding 45. T. Hotter, the holder of this button, defaulted through being absent.

B Button. —C. Dingle 46, J. Tapp 45, A. Booth 45, G. Gibson 45, R. Evans 45, J. Tapp, the holder, went down by one point, but was shooting much below form.

Ladies’ Buttons.—Mrs. F. Rae 49, Miss K. Petersen 49, Miss J. Rae 49. Miss T. Ingram, the holder, also defaulted, but owing to the lateness of the hour it was decided to shoot off on Tuesday evening. The teams shooting competition is held every year, teams consisting of four or five members. The prize is a silver cup to be held for one year, while en-

graved miniature cups are to be presented to each member of the winning team. The selection of teams will be held to-night at the range. Teams captains'appointed so far are: A. Elgar, L. Uttinger, T. Hotter, P. Petersen, E. Booth and L. Sharrock (Electric Light Company’s team).

HAWERA OPERA HOUSE. "THE LARIAT KID” TO-NIGHT. “The Lariat Kid,” Hoot Gibson’s latest starring Western for Universal, is the attraction at the Opera House, Hawera. A story of the legendary old west, it is one of the star’s most interesting and entertaining productions. It. is an adaptation done by Jacques Jaccard and Sylvia B. Seid, of the novel by Buckleigh F. Oxford, and the screen version has not only retained the romance and charm of the book but has enhanced the words with some new and daring stunts and situations. The. picture has more than the ordinary amount of thrills with Gibson staging at least five fights, using fists, foot, guns, lariat and any throwable bric-a-brac happening to be at hand. Fast riding and hair-raising stunts add to the punch of “The Lariat Kid.” Ann Christy is seen as the adorable Mary Lou, the girl of Hoot’s heart. She is. one of the most beautiful and talented leading ladies that the star has ever had. Others, in the supporting cast are Cap Anderson, Mary Foy, Francis Ford, Walter Brennan, Bud Osborne, Joe Bennett, Andy Waldron and Jim Corey. A full supporting programme includes “The Life Works of Schumann,” two news reels, cartoon and comedy. , ip ~ v — The final of the series of weekly euchre and ping-pong tournaments will be held at Auroa Hall on Friday in aid of the hall funds. The points prizes for the season will be: awarded.

GENERAL ITEMS. The Auroa Pipe Band, will hold a ball in the local hall on August 14. Patrons are promised a good floor, an excellent supper, plenty of novelty dances and Coburn’s best music. Steps are being taken to prevent recurrences of petty stealing at the Hawera hospital farm and to prevent the visit of night prowlers in the grounds. Two gallons of milk and a bucket had been stolen from the dairy, tho farm manager stated. A quantity of hay had been stolen and the toolshed had been entered while gaps had been discovered in fences, apparently the work of prowlers bent upon removing plants and shrubs. Mr. J. F. Stevenson has requested that an explanation he made concerning a statement attributed to him at the meeting of ratepayers held at Hawera on Thursday evening last to dis-

cuss the South Taranaki electrical position. The statement referred to by Mr« Stevenson is as follows: “I rise to & point of order. I do not know whether lam in favour of the board or not. It is fifty-fifty.” Air. Stevenson states that he used the above sentence' in relation to the formation or of a ratepayers’ association,, and says that he did not use the word “board? nr that connection. • Ar 4 Car parking was the subject of, ft discussion at last night’s meeting, of the Hawera Borough Council, the question of parking with the front or rear to the kerb provoking a difference of opinion. It was finally left to Inspector L. Hunt to arrange a demonstration for the benefit of councillors. The sum of £IOO was voted towards the earthquake relief fund by the Hawera Borough Council at last night’s meeting.

funds for the relief of the earthquake sufferers are:— s. d. Mrs King’s 1st Co. Girl Guides 10 0 C., M., A., and J ,...... 3 0 0 Rev. Father Cullen 2 2 0 Rev. Father Foley 1 0 0 Shop Day, including competitions and donations ..... 44 14 11 Copper trail 14 o 2 Proceeds of dance and competitions 20 0 0 Miss D. Corrigans shilling drive 88 4 9 Euchre drive organised by Miss Green and Mrs Lewis 19 6 6 Donation from St. Vincent de Paul Society 2 2 0 Salvation Army (street collection) 4 10 10