COST OF POWER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 90, 17 April 1934, Page 8

COST OF POWER.

REDUCTION DEMAND.

DAIRY COMPANIES' NEEDS.

PRIVATE PLANTS PROPOSED,

(From Our Own Correspondent.) TE KUITI, Monday,

A motion tabled at a meeting of the Waitomo Electric Power Board to-day by Mr. T. O'Connell, "That Parliament be petitioned regarding a reduction in bulk supply, to bring country boards 011 an equality with metropolitan areas," was warmly supported. It was generally felt that as conferences of power boards had effected nothing, more direct methods should be adopted.

The chairman, Mr. W. A. Lee, while in full sympathy, suggested awaiting the reply of the chief electrical engineer, Mr. F. T. M. Kissel, to the request now being made by the dairy industry for reduction in power charges.

Mr. W. V. Simms said the New Zealand Dairy Company had received a reply in the negative. As a result the new dairy factory to be erected at Otorohanga would generate its own electricity.

"This will mean that the dairy factries throughout the Waikato, Thames Valley and King Country will withdraw their supply ox-dors and produce their own power. It will mean a tremendous loss to power board/ throughout the country," concluded Mr. Simms. "The result of Mr. Kissel's refusal of the dairy directors' request will mean a loss of £600 a year to the Waitomo Power Board for ehergy supplied to the Otorohanga factory.

"It is a scandal," declared Mr. Simms, as the motion was carried, "that the most essential industry in the country cannot get the same consideration as a picture theatre in the city."