PROVISIONAL POWER BOARD

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXI, Issue 2264, 2 October 1919, Page 5

PROVISIONAL POWER BOARD

MEETING LAST NIGHT

The hydro-electric power question was advanced a further stage last night, when a conference of members of local bodies surrounding and including the Cambridge Borough was held in the Council Chamber, and elected a provisional Power Board to carry on the work up to the stage when the ratepayers will elect the permanent Board.

Those present included the Mayor (Mr E. J. Wilkinson), Crs. Dallimore, Roche, Bycroft, Alan Bell, Hall, Grainger, E. Veale and R. Speake (Pukekura Road Board), T. Robinson (Roto-o-rangi Road Board), W. Harbutt (Cambridge Road Board), G. 11. Ollard (Leamington Town Board) L. V. Corpe, Bunyard and J. S. Fisher. Provisional Chairman.

The meeting decided that the Mayor should be appointed provisional chairman of the proposed Power Board. This was unanimously agreed to. Executive Officers.

Mr Bunyard was appointed provisional engineer to the Board and Mr Brooks was prevailed upon to act as provisional clerk to the temporary Board. The Council Chambers were agreed upon as the temporary public offices of the Board. Cost of Power. Mr Roche spoke on the provisional cost of poyer as stated by the experts at the Hamilton conference. He said that the proposed charge was just about double what it could be and should be. He pointed out that if the £l2 per kilowatt per annum was imposed it would be a bar to manufacturers who wanted to start industries in the Waikato. Mr Roche spoke very forcibly on this point, and urged that the matter be brought before the Government as early as possible. He maintained that the current could be sold at from £4 10/ to £5 per horse power per annum, and stated that at Hora Hora it was being produced for £3 per horse power. The chairman supported Mr Roche, and said it would mean that our Avings would be clipped right at the outset if the proposed high price Avas charged. It Avas absurd for the Government to talk about increasing production and then charging a price which Avould cripple production. The suggested price Avould mean that many farmers Avould not install the current at all. On the motion of Mr Ollard it Avas agreed that representatives of the several surrounding poAver boards be appointed to bring the matter before the Government, and to ask that the price charged be the minimum.

A Question of Boundary. Considerable discussion took place regarding the boundary line of the Cambridge Power Board area and the Te Awamutu Power Board area. The following resolution resulted and was carried unanimously: “That the Provisional Committee of the Te Awamutu District Electric Power Board be informed in reply to their correspondence regarding the proposed boundaries of their Electric Power Board District, that the Pukekura Road Board by resolution of the Board requested that the boundary of the Cambridge Electric Power Board District, so far as it affected the Pukekura settlers, should be as near as possible co-terminus with the boundaries of the Pukekura Road district, and the petition for the constitution of the Cambridge Electric Power Board district has been formed on these lines. This meeting, therefore, cannot see its way to deviate from this arrangement as to boundaries, except in so far as engineering requirements may demand.” The Provisional Board.

The Provisional Power Board was elected as follows:—E. J. Wilkinson and Roche’ (Borough Council), Robt. Speake and J. S. Fisher (Pukekura Road Boarcl), Newell and W. Harbutt (Cambridge Road Board), W. 'White (Leamington Town Board), and Robinson (Roto-o-rangi Road Board), Standardisation. The newly constituted Board sat to discuss several points and Messrs Bunyard and Roche urged that every effort be made to induce users of the current to instal a standard motor and standard wiring. This would make for efficiency and quick repairs. But if various types of motors w r ere installed it would mean the. utmost confusion in these matters. Information,

The Board agreed that Mr Bunyard should go South and investigate the various systems in use there. He will -gather informa-

tion as to the cost to consumer, typos of motors, and anything else which ho may consider of value to the Board. / / .Policy. r The policy of the new Board is to he one of keen enthusiasm to get the work in hand at the earliest moment, and to see that the initial steps are made in such a manner that everything will wrok smoothly and harmoniously for duly elected Boards later on.