POWER FOR WAIMATE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 16 December 1925, Page 7

POWER FOR WAIMATE.

COUNT Y COUNCIL FAVOURS LOAN POLL. Yesterday morning a deputation from tho South Canterbury Flee trie Power Board, consisting of- Messrs J. Kennedy (chairman), S. 1. Fitch and C. Dash (manager), waited on the Wa:mate County Council in connection with the taking of a loan poll for the purpose of reticulating the inner area of the County. The deputation was welcomed by the chairman (Air H. B. S, Johnstone). Mr' J. Kennedy explained that the object of tiie visit was with a v'.ew r to asking the Council's advice and .cooperation. Vne present position nad been brought about by a portion of the County (Beep Creek Riding) asking the Power Boaru to take a loan poll, over that area. A good-sized petition had been received lrom Deep Creek ratepayers, and tile Power Board had field tiie matter up to see if it would be advisab c to take a poll over the whole of the inner area. They had undertaken to reticulate the district, but they would erect- no lines that were going to run dead; they must have per cent, on the construction. The Power Board hud progressed fairly well

and they could sec that within three or four years they would be able to square their accounts. Regarding \Vaimatc. the Board had had a portion added to tne borough Joan to reticulate a portion surround’-iig the borough in the Deep Creek riding. .As far-as the sources in supply and requirements were concerned, tiie position had been made clear by the. Government, and a'l the agitation had practically d.ed down. Tiie second Jine was within striking distance of Timaru, and tne line to Pareora had been livened up recently and canted 250 h.p. He wished ,to impress on members the policy of the Board was that no construction would be made unless, they could see a return for the expense. Mr Fitch pointed out- that if a separate poll was taken in Deep Creek, that riding would bo taken out and it wou <1 be more difficult .or tlie rest of the jcouiilty to get e,metric power. He hoped the Council would seriously consider the taking of a poll over the whole county. The Board would only sell where there was a payab.e demand, and it would be a great pity for Waimate to be deprived or what other counties had found of great benefit. Mr Johnstone asked if they could guarantee on the loan proposal that the rate would not be collected until it was seen whether the scheme was payable or not.

Mr Kennedy replied that the Board’s solicitors had stated that it was not advisable for them to do so. In the interests generally of raising money it was not advisable to put such conditions in a loan proposal. Mr Johnstone inquired the amount required to reticulate the whole of tho inner area.

Mr Kennedy said he could not give the actual figures that day, hut the original loan, which was turned down, was for £IOU,OOO less £40,000 for the borough. Mr Lindsay: What form of guarantee do you get from the consumer? Mr Kennedy said they asked him to sign a paper that he would take current on a certain guarantee. If there was a surplus revenue ever the 12Jf per cent, it would be rebated to,the guarantors. The guarantee was' for fiveyears. Mr Kennedy added that the Board was quite satisfied they ..had an unlimtied supply of power, and the Government assured them that if, they could find users of power they (the Go-, vernment) would find the power. Tho average cost of installation was vfa. a point. The Board would, make arrange--intents for financial assistance to com I sumers.

Mr J. Bitcliener: Would the-fact that a ratepayer voted for the loan.bind. him. to take power? Mr Kennedy : Oh, no. Mr H. M. Whatman stated that the Board members would-probably-like au| expression of opinion - from councillors, hut he did not propose to give his rate-, payers any lead. If the Bower Board was a permanent body lie would havenothing more to say. The guarantee seemed a good one, but suppose tiie country was affected by a slump, would the Government allow the Board to 6ell up the small holdings? He thought it was almost certain to fall back bii the general rate over the whole county, Aft- Johnstone said two years ago a poll over the whole of South Canterbury was turned down and now the Power Board was reticulating • piecemeal-, and Waimate was the last block to be done. He was against the last poll, but he did not think Waimate had lost any tiling by - waiting as they had seen the experience of Geraldine and Ashburton, and. that experience totally, favoured the policy of the Bovver Board. If a new Board was elected there niiglit be a new policy, but the election of a, new Board Was in the hands of the ratepayers. He did not think WaiuYite should be left out, for if the scheme proved successful and Waimate was out, they won d probably be sorry later on. The more he had gone into the scheme the more he liked it.

Mr Kennedy stated that before the poll was taken, members of the Bba’rd would travel the district and explain the position fully. Mr R. Sinclair said he had opposed the last poll but at present lie felt different'y disposed towards it. He was satisfied the Power Board members were working in a businesslike wav, aiid so long as they carried on in the way they were doing, they had lie thill g to fea.r regarding the poll. Mr J. Bitchencr snid he would vote for the loan. As for the present Board going out and a now one being elected ho thought they could safely leave that to the ratepayers. Mr Johnstone thanked tho Power Board membei’s for stating tho position, and he hoped they nnderutc-od the Council's feeling in the matter. Sir Kennedy returned thanks am! suggested that something in the way of'""a i-csolutiou be forwarded to the Board. , After the deputation withdrew, the following resolution was carried : “That .the Waimate Countv Conned is m favour of a poll being taken bv the South Canterbury Electric Power Board over the inner area of tho countv in the matter of raising a loan for the reticulation of the raid area, providing the cost of the poll is borne by tho Board.’’