HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1397, 26 May 1923, Page 5

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

THE LlNKlN'ti-IT SCHEME. OTOROHANGA AND THE OUTER AREA. t . /(From Our Resident Representative..) Convened by Mr C. G. Murphy, a meeting of those who had signed the petition protesting against being detachedAeoni tilt* Te Awamutu power distrknFwas held in the Town Flail Chambers yesterday. Mr Black was voted to the chair, and called upon Mr Murphy to explain the purpose of the meeting. Mr Murphy, referring to what he had done in the past as far as hydroelectricity was concerned, said he had forwarded the petition to the Minister of Public Works and written the following letter“ Enclosed please find petition from ratepayers of the outer area of the Te Awamutu Electric Power District, protesting against any proposal to include them in the proposed Waitomo Power District. The outer area includes Otorohanga - township and a portion of the Otorohangn County. The ratepayers of the town are we'll represented on the petition and more signatures could he obtained if we had more time at our disposal and the ratepayers were fully canvassed. The county ratepayers have signed the petition almost ‘en bloc,’ and the, ratepayers in the remaining portion of the county to be included in the proposed Waitomo Power /Board District would , give equal support to a similar petition. We respectfully request that you give this matter your earnest consideration before coming to a final decision." To this the Minister replied that he would give the matter careful con- j sideration. and later, under date of i May 2nd, wrote: "With further refer- | ence lo your letter of the 4th April j T would he glad to know whether it I is the intention of the netitioners to ; petition for inclusion in inner area I of the Te Awamutu Power Board. The j petition forwarded is purely negative j Vand in considering ir 1 should he glad j Jk to know what alternative proposa- j * the petitioners have in view for the* supply of Recline power to the Otoro- j hangn district.” Tn reply to that letter die (Mr i Murphy) had replied: ”11 is the in- j tention of a large number of rate- | . payers in the Otorohanga district, to j petition to lie included in the inner } area of the Te Awamutu Power I Board district in ftm near future 't’hc ! main cause or delayed acGon at ore- j

sent, are the serious arrears existing in county rates, interest and similar liabilities, and also the fact that many ratepayers prefer to wail for the Te Awamutu scheme to he fully tested before finally committing this district. Opponents of the Te Awamntu scheme have so freely accused the Te Awamutu Power Board of unsound policy, and of having crashing liabilities that it is doubtful if am' loan proposal could he carried at present. Tf you desire ii a fully representative committee of ratepayers ’will be set up to thoroughly investigate the matter and reply more fully to your enquiries. In the. meantime if necessary, may that committee approach you for a report on the Te Awamutu scheme and its future prospects.” The reply of the Minister to that letter was as follows: ”1 have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Bth lust in further reference to mine of the 2nd inst, and note that it is the intention of a large number of ratepayers of the Otorohanga district to petition to lie included in the inner area of the Te Awamutu Power District in the near future. I note yourienquiry for a report on the Te Awamutu power scheme and will be pleased to give the question earh consideration/’ Mr Murphy’s action in having written the foregoing letters was approved.

Mr Murphy said they must, remember that the whole matter was one for the ratepayers as a whole, hut they as a committee could work so as to get lull particulars of the two schemes placed before a district meeting and it would then be for the ratepayers to state their wishes. Though he and others had worked on certain lines he was not. biassed one way or the other, but his aim had been to obviate. the danger of a scheme antagonistic to the ratepayers' interests being thrust upon them. The Minister seemed to imply that they should decide to join the inner area of the Te A warn utu scheme. This, of course. \ could not lie done without the general /consent of the ratepayers, and when this was signified a petition could lie framed asking to have the outer area merged into the inner area. He moved that a preliminary committee consisting of Messrs Rluck. R. Green. R. Watkins, Kearins. .1. Budge. Rowe, Bowyer, Richmond and the mover he appointed to confer with the Town Board. County Council and Chamber of Commerce to set up a district committee to investigate and report on a hydro electric scheme for the Otorohanga district, with power to add to their number. Messrs Green. Black Watkins, and Richmond being appointed delegates to wait on the local bodies and arrange a modus operandi. the motion was put and carried unanimously.