THE FIRST STEP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 244, 15 October 1935, Page 10

THE FIRST STEP.

HIRING OF RANGES. POWER BOARD'S PROPOSAL TENDERS INVOLVE £10,000. Tenders for tho supply of electric ranges have been received from thirteen firms by the Auckland Electric Power Board as an initial step in connection with the board's policy to hire ranges to consumers. "The tenders have been made alternative for the supply of 250 or 500 ranges," said the general manager of the board, Mr. R. H. Bartley, this morning. "We have very bright prospects that the board's new policy will be taken up enthusiastically," he added. "We more work coming in than our present stalf can cope with, although up to the present the whole of our purchases of ranges have been sold through the trade and installed by the trade. This work must have resulted i:i quite a stimulation of business to the electrical merchants and contractors. The tenders received average about £20 for each range, with sales tax, and if the board takes the larger supply of 500 ranges the expenditure by the board on its purchases will be £10,000." Industrial Prosperity. Mr. Bartley also explained that the small motor load of the hoard was increasing enormously at the present time and there were between 20 and 25 motors of 10 li.p. capacity being installed a week. The board also had in view fairly large power development within the next month or two, and this would require a supply of approximately 2000 k.w. Generally speaking, the future offered quite bright prospects for the electrical supply business, and there was every indication of industrial prosperity ahead. "A power supply authority must not merely confine itself to the supply of power," said Mr. Bartley. "It has also to do everything within its means to encourage the establishment of industry, and if it can do this through its power rates then it not only helps itself but aids the general unemployment and labour question. With that in view, the board goes to a good deal of trouble to assist any new industry."