POWER FOR TRAMWAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 269, 13 November 1928, Page 9

POWER FOR TRAMWAYS.

QUESTION OF COSTS.

DISCUSSED BY CONFERENCE.

LOCAL BODIES AGREE

Tn order to discuss a future method of arriving at the of power' supplied to the city tramways, a conference wa» held yesterday afternoon between representatives of the Auckland City Council and the Auckland Power Board.

Speaking for the City Council, Mr. J. A. C. Allum said that they desired a more simple method of dealing with the cost of power to the tram ways. They were not in a po.ition to commit the council definitely, but it was desirable that a satisfactory basis should be agreed upon. The City Council offered a guarantee of a minimum consumption of 18 million units per annum, but if it fell below t*hose figures they considered that arbitration should be resorted to.

The chairman of the Auckland Power Board (Mr. W. J. Holdsworth) gave it as his opinion that the present method was cumbersome, costly and open to criticism. The board wanted to avoid the keeping of detailed accounts. Mr. Allum said that it was essential to arrive at a simple method of calculation. If they could come to a settlement • on the basis suggested it would go a long way towards a solution. Mr. Holdsworth said that it was possible that arbitration would involve both local bodies in a larger sum than was in dispute. The city solicitor (Mr. J. Stanton) said that arbitration was only a safeguard. Mr. Holdsworth said that if arbitration were insisted ujion it would mean the Power Board keeping. a mass of details, which they wanted to avoid.

suggestion that a sub-committee of three aside should be set up was made at this stage. It was pointed out that if any decision was made it would be binding on the new Auckland Transport Board. After general discussion on various phases of the matter an agreement was reached with the proviso that should the demand for city tramways fall below the 18 million unit mark per annum, then the cost should be in the same ratio as provided in the existing agreement between the two local bodies.