FOREST LAKE EXTENSION

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14773, 12 October 1921, Page 6

FOREST LAKE EXTENSION

BOROUGH OR COUNTY AREA? ELECTRIC SUPPLY CONTROVERSY WAIPA OPPOSES LICENSE. ; Lengthy correspondence in connec--1 tion with the Te Rapa electric extension • area was received by Waipa Count'f Council yesterday from the Central i I Power Board, in which the Council i was asked to support the Board in opl posing the Hamilton Borough Council , retaining this area within its boundaries. The county chairman, Mr Stewart I Reid, said the position was that the i Hamilton Council did not wish to relinquish its license, but wanted to I I annex all the fat areas and leave the ! i Central Board the lean ones, i Cr. Peacocke said the district which | the borough offered the Board contain- : ed four consumers, whom it would not i I pay the Board to ;-upply, the borough i taking in its pi ice a compact and ■ ' thickly-populated neighbourhood- The : whole thing was unfair. The Board i had recognised this from the first, and j had opposed it from the very start. ! The Board was ready to go straight ahead and reticulate this district, but I l!ie borough would be unable to carry j the supply there for some lime yet. I Cr. Livingstone said the ratepaye--i in the forest Lake district were auxiI nus to remain within the county, an.l ■ there was a letter from a number ol them asking to be allowed to remain in the county. Cr. Ellicott said the borough proposal was to annex the pick of the rati able properly of the Hamilton riding. fir. Livingstone: Do you know of anybody outside Mr .1- W. Walsh who te (anxious to go into the borough? Cr. Ellieolt: Mr Walsh told me hi i did not want to go into the borough, l as it would mean a tremendous i. j crease in I.is rates.. The chairman said the whole license i had been revoked excepting over 111 s area, and the understanding was that the license should hold good until the Central Board was able to supply the Fores! Lake district with light. Cr. Johnson said he was satisfied that Hamilton's altitude right through had been a wrong one. The area in question belonged to a duly-constituted power board, and anyone could see Hi '1 Hamilton borough was looking to the future and realised that this would become a profitable area easily supplied. Why should they be allowed to rob t the Central Board, however, of its rightful heritage? There was a tac't understanding that Hamilton should relinquish its claim to this area, but realising, as an afterthought, that they had an obligation to the syndicate at present receiving electricity from th; borough, they decided to carry on until the Central Board was able to provide a supply. Hamilton's present attitude of offering another unprofitable area in exchange was doubtless a shrewd move, but it was an unjust one and easily seen through. The chairman said the borough alti- . tudc was lhe morn unjust because in !In- lirsl place it refused lo accept this area. Cr. Johnson said Hamilton was the only borough in (lie Mora Horn area that refused to administer the suburban : areas adjacent In its boundaries, The Council unanimously decided to oppose Hamilton rclainin? its present license over the area in question, and also to oppose the issue of a furtlic'" license to Hamilton to administer anv portion of lhe Waipa County area