ELECTRIC POWER.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 9 May 1925, Page 8

ELECTRIC POWER.

RETICULATION OF LEVELS COUNTY. At yesterday’s meeting of the Levels County Council discussions endued as a result of a letter received fi'oni the South'Canterbury Eleetf.c' Board, in which it wak stated, that frequent requests to supply power were being received irom ratepayers in the novels County. The Board desiiied it to be understood that ’ it could pot leticulate the Levels County until a loan was authorised for that purpose. 1 lie Board enclosed a .pet tlou received Irom seven residents of UamiacaitaL asking that they be supplied with powfer as soon as possible.

Another letter was received from Mr Bernard Tripp, Glen-iti, who adv-sed the holding or another poll, wlitch he was sure would be earned.' HA had applied to the South Canterbury'Power Board to have tho eieotnc pbwerinstalled in his residence, . but . was informed that he could not be connected as ho was unfortunate enough to be living in the Levels County. Those living in the County now realised the many benefits of electric powfir, and'were not desirous of beaig felt In “the dark ages,” while res dents of Geraldine-were enjoying the benefits-'-of the power. - • , . v : . - The chairman (Air T. B. Garrick) called on Mr 'C. E. Kerr, the CoiihciPs representative on the South Canterbury Power Board, to explain the j.os-t on. ,

Mr Kerr sa : d he thought the Power Beard suould allow those people living in close proximity to Timaru to obtain power from the Borough Council. The Levels ratepayers voted • against tiie last, -poll, and the conditions then were infmiteiy better than at present. If tney h.-.d to vote on the question now the" poll would be. lost, and it would mean more expense Jo the ratepayers. On Saturday last he met the Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Public Works, and Mr Kissell, chief of the electrical department, and they assured him that they were doing their best to expedito the investigat on at Tekapo, and that no tune would be lost in bringing about the proposed conference. As one of the Levels County’s representatives on tie Board, he would not advocate tho lidding of another poll until something definite had .been-decided upon. The chairman sad it was the duty ,of the Power Board to hold another poll before anything coukl be done. Mr Kerr agreed, and said that personally he would be glad to see tho Levels County linked up. The chairman said there would not be a hope of carrying a poll at present. Mr Kerr: “Not with the present supply.” .' . In replv to a ouestion by the -chairman, Mr'Kerr said a transmission hue would shortly be erected to the Pareora Freezing works, where there would be a sub-station. Thus the reticulation of the southern portion of the County would be from Pareora. He also referred to the .policy of the Lower Board in allowing the district to be divderl. Levels County and Timaru should be together, and not apart, as it was only bv unity that they would obtain the best and cheapest service. The letters were referred back to the Power Board for eonsidevatiqii at its meeting on Tuesday next.