ELECTRIC POWER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 116, 19 May 1933, Page 8

ELECTRIC POWER.

SYSTEM OF DISTRIBUTION. REORGANISATION SUGGESTED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. The need for the reorganisation of tl:e system of power distribution was stressed by Mr. O. Blacklev, chainnrn of the Hutt Valley Power Board, at a meeting of the board to-day. "The great weakness in the system lies in the fact that there is no directive head of the whole organisation," said Mr. Blacklev. "One has only to examine the multitude of rate schedules for supply issued by 40 power boards to realise that no such thing exists as a well-organised and efficient national system of electricity distribution. When one reads of power boards and borough councils, with practically the same ratepayers, entering upon lawsuits costing thousands of pounds to determine which of them shall supply electricity to a small contiguous area, or when we hear of cliques of power boards, urged by parochial sentiment, seriously discussing the possibility of the removal of power board offices from one town to another, it is surely time some change should be made to prevent such a scandalous waste of ratepayers' money." Mr. Blackley also spoke of encouraging the industry by making available cheap power. The Hutt Valley Board had entered into a contract with the Public Works Department for an increase of 10 per cent each year in the quantity of power supplied. Although the depression had upset all calculations, the Department refused to revise the contract.

"I am forced to the belief," said Mr. Blackley, "that the hydro-electric department has become too much of a water-tight compartment, and is too conservative in its policy, and is afraid to take ordinary commercial risks." The advantage of the electric range as a profitable current user was mentioned by Mr. Blackley, but the number of these connected had :fallen through additional Customs duties ; exchange and sales tax. The annual revenue to the Government from current consumed by each range would compensate many times over for the loss incurred in Customs duty were the Government to place these on the free list.