AUCKLAND POWER BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 139, 14 June 1932, Page 3

AUCKLAND POWER BOARD.

MARAETAI EXTENSION. UNPROFITABLE SECTION. At the meeting of the Auckland Electric Power Board held yesterday afternoon, Mr. W. .T. Holdsworth in the chair, it was reported by Mr. R. H. Bartley, general manager, that it would eocst £0000 to extend the power supply to the Maraetai and Bcachiands areas. The estimated return would be £197 a year, and as the board would require between £700 and £800 before the extension could pay ho could not recommend that the work be done. There were four farmers among the probable customers, the rest being owners of baches and summer cottages on the beaches. Mr. F. M. Waters said the extension would help the settlement of small farm areas. At the suggestion of the chairman the board decided to offer to the public £10,000 worth of debentures, and if they were taken up to proceed with the work, in spite of its unprofitable nature. Mr. S. I. Crookes recorded his dissent. For Safety's Sake. The board decided to duplicate the lines between Ellerslie and Panmure Roads, where the cables leave the underground cable from Penrose sub-station, to the Remuera Road, and from that point to the junction of Kohimarama and St. Helier's Bay Roads. The unfortunate conditions prevailing had prevented the districts concerned from producing the demand that would have been experienced in normal times, av.d tlie duplication of the lines referred to had never been made. However, rather than allow the cable to lie in store itwould be better to do the work now. It would cost £2300. The chairman pointed out that it would not only .save charges on the stored cable, but would creato work.