POWER BOARD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 211, 19 June 1933, Page 6

POWER BOARD

NO SALARY REDUCTIONS.

DISCUSSION IN COMMITTEE.

"CUTS" MADE IN" FIVE YEARS. The'Ashburton Electric Power Board met this morning, when there were present Messrs E. F. Nicoll (chairman), J. W. M. Dart, W. H. Rundle, H. J. Orothers, H. C. Barton, H. Morris, W. Bryant, R.J. Mulligan, J. Lambie, W. G. Gfallagher, W. H. Woods, and J. Carr. A further reply to the Canterbury Rural Power Boards' movement to bring about a reduction in charges for bulk current from the Government Avas received from the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. J. Bitchener), who stated that he did not feel disposed to begin making exceptions to the general system, as any such practice could only lead to complications at a later dato It was recognised that boards such as the Ashburton Board might be finding difficulty in maintaining a sound financial position, at the same time it was felt that tl>°, cost of power in bulk .was only on& of many items which go to make up the total costs and that other items were in the aggregate of more importance than this one.

The chairman said the reply was not one that should be deemed to be final.

Mr Dart said the reply was weak

Mr Carr: It reminds one of the newspapers, which say that all costs should be reduced except their own. The chairman said the Minister had agreed to meet representatives of the boards at an early date, when the position would be further placed before him.

The Mid-Canterbury Executive of the Farmers' Union forwarded a number of remits passed at its annual conference regarding the earthing of wire fences, protection against fire through fallen wires and worn insulation. The chairman said that circulars in regard to the earthing of fences had already been sent out to farmers, and the other questions were receiving constant attention by the staff. The Public Works Department forwarded a circular letter regarding the danger of electrocution through amateur wiring. The Board decided to have extracts from the letter printed on Lhe backs' of the account forms:

Mr Barton said there was,, of course, the fact that small adjustments to apparatus cost too much wh.m a member of the Board's staff had to call ; at consumers' homes to attend to rhe.n.. The financial statement showed that, the revenue for May, 1933, and Mvi'v, 1932, respectively was as follow: Domestic £3OIB 6s 4d and £2913 12s (increase £lO4 14s 4d), commeivnd £5Bl 7s 9d and £534 Ida 9d (increase £46 8s), power £556 12s lOd and £604; 17s 6d (decrease £4B 4s 8d), sundries £65 15s lOd and £67 18s 5d (decrease £2 2s 7d); totals £4270 7s 5d ' and £4073 3s (increase £197 4s sd). The revenue for April and May totalled £7234 16s, against £7030 Is 8d in the same period of 1932, an increase of £204 14s 4d.

The Engineel'~Seci'etal'y reported that a total of 102 replacements of defective bluegum poles was made, including the tollewing—Dromore line '64, Three Springs, Rakaia, Hinds and Longbeach live each; Ashburtdn four, Pendarves three, Carr’s, Lowcliffe, Seafield and Blackhridge two each, and Somerton, Acton and Highbank one each. A further shipment of 111 poles had arrived, and they were unloaded at Chertsey for: use on the Dromore and 'Pendarv-es lines. The County Council istone crusher was giVen supply at iCaiew, this involving the erection of lfive poles temporarily. Two extra poles were erected in services at Ashburton, one at Rakaiu, six at Hinds, including a rearrangement of the iformer line, .and one at Longheach. Trouble had been experienced on the latter line for some time, and it was moved to a new location. Storms on May 8 brought down eight poles, and on the 17th 18 poles. ,T‘hese were located in the .following places : ll‘lemington 41, Lowclilt'e 3, Lengbeach 3, Highbank 2, Rokeby 2, Hinds 4, Acton 1, Pendurves 3, Riverside 1, and Seafield 1. Earth testing had been continued as opportunity offered on the Highbank, Marawhiti, Cairnbrae B‘ack Track and Main Methven lines. Tree cutting had been’done at Carew, May~ lfield, E‘aling, Ruapuna, Lismore, Mt. Somers, Sta‘veley, Bushsider, Ashburton, Forks, and Willowby. The Fair-iield—Mitchain-Ovcrdalc line was over-; |hauled, and all bolts tightened. i

[The Running-Engineer reported that units supplied by Lake Coleridge had totalled 568,733.23, and from the Diesel 1,389.6, a. grand total of 570.1229. The Diesel plant was running for 14 hours 28 minutes during the month, using 113 gallons of crude oil. ‘ The Inspector reported that during the mouth a good. deal of work had ‘been done both on installation work and maintenance. Twelve :new consumers had been connected to the supply, and temporary lighting had been installed in various places in Connection with the County Relief fund. The general rise in the heating load was natural at this time, of the year, and it seemed as if this load would develop into one of themain items. Lately, the inspection department had beenrewinding small motors at a considerable saving to consumers. This branch was now able to take any motor re-‘ pairs. Sixteen wireless sets had been added during; the month. .. The reports were adopted.

The question of the. reduction of the salaries of the staff‘was discussed in camera, and when the Board resumed in open rxreeting it was announced that l it had been decided that no- reductionsi in salaries ‘shonld he made, that the‘ allowances made to members of the Board had been retained at £1 ls, loss 10 per cent., for each meeting, and lthat travelling allowance had been reduced from 8d a_milo to 6d a. mile. ‘ It was pointed out during the discussion, which lasted over an hour,

that in the past five years the amount paid by the Board in salaries had been reduced from £5872 a year to £3BOI a year.