POWER EXTENSION PLAN

Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1931, Page 10

POWER EXTENSION PLAN

SOUTH TARANAKI LOAN POLL CHAIRMAN OUTLINES PROPOSAL. APPROVAL GIVEN AT MEREMERE. Ratepayers of the South laranaki Power Board iu the Meremere district on Monday night approved the proposed £40,090 loan for reticulating portions of what was formerly the outer area. Mr. J. B. Murdoch, chairman of the board, outlined to the meeting, over which Mr. G. W_. A. Williams piesided, the details of the scheme. The proposal was for a loan of £40,000, said Mr. Murdoch, for a territoiy taking in the populous land. If the settlers did not want the current just yet the loan would give them’ the finance for supply in the future. The security for the loan was a rate of just over l-3d in the £l. When the original area had taken over the company’s plant the security rate had been in the £l, and it had never (been collected. All the new loan proposal covered was the reticulation of the district and they would have nothing of the original loan to bear. The 'board was a payable concern which had made £23,600 profit in two years. The residents in the “outer area” would have the benefit of this just as much as the more closely settled districts would. There were a good many power boards in New Zealand. Some put lines everywhere regardless of whether they would pay or not but there was no chance of that in South Taranaki. Lines would be put iip only where they would pay. The board had substantially reduced its tariff. Mr. Murdoch emphasised the reliability of electricity, which was not at the mercy of the elements. . All the (board’s engineer’s estimates had been in excess of the amount required. He was satisfied that the £40,060 would exceed the cost of the work. The Loans Board approval was for interest at 5 per cent. The estimate 'provided for 5J per cent, in case it was not possible to' secure money at the cheaper rate. Sinking fund was fixed at 2 per cent., which would repay the loan in 26 years. Ample provision had been made for contingencies.

NOT COMMITTED TO SPEND LOAN.

Whenuakura ratepayers had supported the proposal, because the outer area was the only thickly populated district between Auckland and Wellington without power. Approval of the loan did not commit the board to spend the £40,000, but only such portions of it as might from time to time be necessary for- reticulating payable portions of the district.

When Mr. Murdoch had had his house re-wired, he said, it had cost him 38s per point. Under the board the installation cost had (been reduced to 26s by the introduction of a system of calling for tenders for groups of installations. There had 'been some criticism because the newly-included portion of the 'Hawera County did not have a representative on the board, but this had been by the Public Works Department, which was against large boards. Reticulating the outer area would not increase • the administrative charges, which with a larger number of suppliers would reduce the average individual contribution towards administration. The reticulation of Waimate West had led to practically no additional cost under this head. It might cost a' settler up to £lOO to install power, and the “board realised that this sum was often difficult to find in cash. The ‘board had adopted a scheme of financial assistance. As much as £l6OO had 'been advanced, but this had now been reduced to £BOO, while interest had also been paid on advances. ’ The people in the outer area had an advantage over the 'inner area. The interest and sinking fund for the first year was paid put of the general fund, to which all parts of the district contributed. Loans were fairly expensive to put through. That was why one loan was being submitted instead of separate ones for the Patea and Hawera counties. The board’s original loan had been uplifted piecemeal and the board still had £lB,OOO authority unraised. Meremere was not the most payable of places. At the present time it did not show the required 16 per cent, profit. In Waimate West, however, certain roads which had been in a similar position had since the board took over shown a demand increased sufficiently to make the lines payable. The cost of the first chain of service line was paid by the board and if the settler used either a milking motor or a range the second chain would also be free, while if both a milking motor and range were installed the first three chains would be free. The charge for service lines beyond this allowance was from Is 9d to 2s 3d per yard. NOT TO BE RAISED AT ONOE. What he .wished everyone to understand was that approval of the loan of £40,006 did not mean that the money would 'be raised right away, continued Mr. Murdoch. Only as much as was required to erect lines where a payable load was assured would be taised. He knew the proposition was good and that the settlers would be wise to join with the more thickly populated district. It had. been estimated that power would save the Patea freezing works £lOOO a year and the Patea cool stores £5OO to £6OO a year. The people would want electricity, and he was sure they would never regret carrying the loan. Replying to the chairman the engineer, Mr. T. R. Overton, said they usually defined groups that would show a return of almost exactly 16 per cent, and made them as large as possible.

The chairman pointed out there was a gap in the Meremere line. As far as Mr. A. Williams’ property the return was estimated at 18.9 per cent., but beyond that there was a gap before other settlers were reached. Mr. Williams thought it would be beneficial if the board could construct a line right to Meremere as long as 16 per cent, return was shown over the whole length. Mr. Murdoch said the estimate of 12| per cent, for the outer half of the Meremere line was conservative and an actual canvass might show 16 per cent. One road in Waimate West-had at first shown only 7 per cent, but actually 16 per cent, had 'been secured. Answering another question Mr. Murdoch said it would take 60 . per cent, of the total votes cast to carry the loan. 'Each ratepayer would have one vote but in the case of a hall or a dairy factory the trustees could appoint one of their number to vote even though he had a vote in his own right.

Mr. E. A. Washer said the board’s success had been phenomenal. As a settler himself he advised Meremere settlers to vote for the loan. There iiad been more risk of a rate in the original area and they all knew the sound position of the original area now. A ratepayer asked what would happen if work costing only £1u,666 could be undertaken immediately. He thought there would be a fair chance of a rate. Mr. Murdoch explained that that was

the soundness of the proposition. If there was that quantity to be spent that was all that would be raised aud the revenue would 'be sufficient to pay all charges on it. 'With the board’s policy of never constructing a line unless it would pay there was no possibility of a rate. Only one board in New Zealand had ever collected the rate struck as security for its loan. Mr. Murdoch was thanked for his address and a motion approving the loan carried.

ST. JOHN’S CHURCH, HAWERA.

ANNUAL CONGREGATION MEETING

The annual meeting of the congregation of St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Hawera, was held on Monday. The Rev. R. E. Evans presided over a large attendance.

The annual report showed that the buildings were all in good repair. The finances were sound, the only indebtedness being for comparatively small amounts on the Galt Street and Turu-tu'-n halls. The total receipts for the year were £lBOO, which was considered satisfactory. The church had over £lOOO on fixed deposit, this forming the nucleus of a fund for the erection of a new church and Bible Class buildings. The General Assembly schemes for the church had received generous support, the amount donated being £355. Appreciative mention was made - of the loans advanced free of interest by Misses Buchanan arid Messrs. J. Pill and J. Hicks. One of these amounts had been repaid. The new notice board, which was illuminated at night, was favourably commented on. Miss D. Corrigan and Messrs. J. D. Tait, A. Wilson, W. Reid, E. K. Cameron and W. Pollock were elected to the board of managers. Members of the works committee were thanked for their care of the church property, Mr. W. Reid being specially mentioned.

Dr. A. M. Young in the course of a short address on the system of giving to the church funds through the envelope method, stressed' the fact that this was the ideal way of assuring regular and consistent giving to the church. Such a method invariably relieved the finance committee of a deal of anxiety.

Mf. A. Coleman spoke appreciatively of the work of Mr. Evans. Mr. and Mrs. Evans were respected and loved by the people for their willingness and thoughtfulness. It was reported that there were 1200 persons under the care of Mr. Evans. There were 418 children and 38 teachers in the four Sunday schools. There were seven leaders and 93 members of the Bible classes. There were 93 members of the Young Worshippers’ League and the average attendance at morning services was 76. The missionary society had collected a considerable amount of money. The institute had had a successful year with an average attendance of 46 under the leadership of Mr. L. A. Taylor. The gymnastic clubs gave spectacular displays of their work during the year and had held several successful social functions. The choir under the conductorship of Mr. C. Lamb had rendered special music on various occasions. It was felt that the congregation could look forward to the new year with high hopes. PATEA WOMEN’S INSTITUTE. INTERESTING ANTIQUE DISPLAY. A very large attendance of members of the Patea Women’s Institute 'enjoyed a very interesting afternoon recently when a display of “something old” brought by members was arranged. The exhibits were many and varied a number being of exceptional beauty, whilst others might be termed curiosities. They included a plate used in King George the Second’s, household 204. years ago, a parasol, carried by a member’s great-grandmother at her wedding day* a cup, saucer and plate 100 years old, a fruit dish in the form of a grape leaf over 100 years old, a Mass candlestick 80 years old, £wo fragments of Roman pottery dug up at Verulanium (St. Albans) during excavations, probably in the year A.D. 400, a piece of genuine Sheffield plate 100 years old. two cups and saucers over 100 years old, a piece of eyelet embroidery over 100 years old, a silver tablespoon that that had been in constant use for the past 90 years, and a piece of home-

made Buckingham lace 68 years old.

HAWERA DRUIDS’ LODGE SOCIAL.

Members of the Eltham, Stratford and Moturoa Lodges, U.A.0.D., attended the Hawera lodge’s half-yearly meeting on Monday. After the installation of officers and transaction of other business a social was held. P.A. Bro. L. Hall was presented with the collar aud diploma of a Past Arch Druid. Bonetti’s string orchestra played concerted items and Mr. G. S. Anderson led community singing. Other contributors to the “programme were Messrs. H. N. Le« tcr (’cello), C. J. McFadyen (monologues), Antoni Bonetti (violin), and W. H. Carter (ukulele) and Mrs. Bonetti (songs). Accompaniments Avere played by Miss G. Purser and Mrs. Bonetti. ‘

The toast list was: “Grand Lodge’ (P.D.P. Bro. J. W- J. Harding—D.P. Bro. Kasper): “Newly Installed Officers” (P.A. Bro. L. Hall —A.D. Bro. H. C. Edwards and P.A. Bro. S. N. Reece); “Kindred Societies” (P.A. Bro. J. Ramsay—representatives of the M.U.1.0.0.F., Hibernian and Huia Lodges); “Visitors’ (P.A. Bro. N. Grant —Eltham representatives); ''Ladies’ (P.D.P. Bro. G.

Brough—Mrs. A. Bonetti); “Entertainers” (P.A. Bro. Grant—Mr. A. Bonetti). CRICKET TEAMS FOR TO-DAY. South Taranaki mid-week cricket teams for to-day are:— Hawera Wednesday to play Opunake, at Opunake: Jackson, Stevens, Boesley, Sargent, McFadyen,* Hopkins, Miller, Duncan, Schinkel, Kehely, Rawcliffe. Eaves. Rivals to play Old Boye at Haw'era: Lovell (2), Pine, Kerrfisk, Fairweather, Bradley, Howe, McDonald, Windle, Cruiekshank, Woolliams, Bell, Shaw. Old Boys to play Rivals: Moloney, Gribble, Horsburgh, Grindlay, M. Gray, A. Gray, Tapp, Morrison, Turnbull, F. Clarke, L. F.oy, R. Clarke. HAWERA ENTERTAINMENTS. “ALIBI” SEASON COMMENCES. “Alibi,” which will be presented at the Opera House, Hawera, to-night and to-morrow, is a talkie screen version of the stage play of that name. It was based, on “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd,” one of Agatha Christie’s finest thrillers. “Alibi” ran for nine months in London. The box plans are open at Miss Blake’s for “Daddy Long Lego, ] which will commence on Saturday. BUSINESS NOTICES. Commencing at 9.30 to-day, the hlanaia District High School will hold a programme of sports for the sc oo cliampionships and for the Smith Trust Cups. The events will take • place on the Manaia Domain. The Eltham Anglican Church bazaar vVill be held at the Eltham Town Hall to-day. There will be stalls of plain •and fancy sewing, P^ oduc ®’ , c^ kes > sweets, flowers and meat a Christmas tree for the children and other sideshows. In the evening a dance and entertainment will be held, the programme