BUILDING PROPOSAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 212, 19 June 1944, Page 2

BUILDING PROPOSAL.

POWER BOARD ACCOMMODATION.

STORES. WORKSHOPS, GARAGES The insufficient accommodation provided by the present stores and workshops of the Electric Power Board -was the subject of a special report to the Board to-day by the Engineer-Secre-tary (Mr H. G. Kemp). The report estimated the total cost of new buildings and alterations to meet requirements at £BOOO. Construction activities, the amount of stocks handled and repairs canned out had completely outgrown the facilities available for them, it was stated. After inspecting the buildings concerned the board adopted the report of the Engineer-Secretary. Had other members seen the staff coming in late at night after repairing damage caused by the snow storm last year, they would whole-heartedly agree that more and better accommodation was needed for the outside staff, said Mr W. H. Woods. It was decided to apply to the Local Government Loans Board for authority to spend £IOO0 —being a refund of loan expenditure from the Public Works Department in connection with primary and secondary reticulation and outdoor sub-stations on further reticulation in those classes. The Town Clerk of Christchurch (Mr H. S. Feast) wrote requesting the board to reconsider its decision not to become a member of the South Island Local Bodies’ Association. The board decided not to alter its previous decision. The prospects of early generation of power at the Highbank power station Was the subject of a discussion in committee. Reports of the Officers. It was reported by the EngineerSecretary (Mr H. G. Kemp) that a start had been made on the removal of a troublesome length of the Ruapuna line in Shepherd's Bush Road into the adjoining paddocks: clear of the plantations. Increasing loads in the Springburn area and at the aerodrome had necessitated supplying transformers more able to cope with them. Trees were trimmed on the Methven line and at Ashton, Seafield and Ashburton. I Clearing work was done along the line from Fairfield to Rakaia in preparation for painting and extension of concrete butts where required. The Tinwald-Maronan line was pulled up and overhauled. The Running-Engineer (Mr A. T. Saunders) reported that the faultmen had attended to 586 calls during 'the month. All pumps were in good order and plenty of water was available. The staff of the garage had been busy overhauling the board’s cars. ,

It was stated in the report of the Inspector (Mr W. G. Welsh) that the wiring department had disposed of its outstanding work during the month as a result of the slackening in the demand for services from the Air Force and the Public Works Department. The following connections were made, bringing the total installations being supplied by the board to the numbers in parentheses;— Ranges 12 (1799), water heaters 6 (1415), motors 7 (3525), meters 12 (7907), consumers 7 (5066), radios 4 (2590). According to the financial report the revenue for May was £6328 9s, an increase of £149 12s 5d for that of the corresponding month last year. There was an increase of £72 5s 3d for the two months ended May, the figures for the 1943 and 1944 periods being £11,572 19s Id and £11,645 4s 4d respectively.

"As the estimates provide only fox’ the board holding its own this year the increases are very satisfactory,” said the chairman (Mr E. F. Nicoll).

An application from the Canterbury Boys Scouts’ Association for a dona* tion was refused. The chairman said it was the gem eral policy of the boai’d not to sub’ scribe to odds and ends of requests of this nature. If a donation were made the board would be inundated with requests. "The thin edge of the wedge would be in if we made a grant,” said Mr J. Carr.

Mr S. P. Taylor expressed the opinion that the association should be supported. The welfare of the youth of the country was a vital matter, ho said.

Those present were Messrs Nicoll (chairman), Woods, Carr. Taylor, 11. R. Wilkinson, R. J. Mulligan, W. Bryant, D. Campbell, H. Morris, 11. J. Crothers, W. G. Gallagher and W. H. Rundle.