HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17804, 31 August 1929, Page 10

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

THAMES VALLEY BOARD. PUTARURU REPRESENTATIVES. A conference between members of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board and the Putaruru Town Board in regard to representation of the latter body was held at Matamata on Wednesday. Mr F. M. Strange presided, and there were also present Messrs J. W. Anderson, J. Price, J % Pohlen and R. Sprague, T.V.E.P.8., G. G. Griffiths and W. Yandle (Putaruru Town Board), and J Buchanan and J. Mclntyre (Matamata Town Board). Mr Strange said that with the formation of the Putaruru Town District a peculiar position had arisen. The Power Board has its full complement af members and there was no provision for adjustment, with the result that Putaruru had no representative. The Act would have to be amended, and Rhis would be considered before the next election. Mr Griffiths stated' Putaruru wanted to work harmoniously with the Power Board, but it had cost the residents hundreds of pounds when breakdowns occurred, and they desired some guarantee that the whole matter of the allocation of seats should be looked into. There was no elasticity in the Act and this was a serious defect in a young country with a rapidly increasing population. Mr Buchanan agreed that the Act needed amending. There was no community of interest between the different town boards. Mr Price felt that power boards were more of a public than a local body. He would be prepared to table a notice of motion at the next meeting of his board that the matter be dealt with immediately. Mr Strange gave his personal assurance that the matter would be dealt with right away. Mr 'Anderson had suggested previously that an assurance should be given that an effort would be made to adjust matters before the next Town Board election. Mr Pohlen also agreed that the matter was urgent and should be considered without delay. Mr Yandle did not consider it was just to Putaruru to be disfranchised till 1932, and thought the Power Board should take steps to have the Act adjusted before the next election.