CHEAPER POWER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 303, 22 December 1937, Page 10

CHEAPER POWER.

REQUEST BY FARMERS. FRANKLIN BOARD'S REPLY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) I PUKEKOHE, Tuesday. 1 "The Franklin Board' 9 "charges compare more than favourably with those of neighbouring boards," stated the chairman. Mr. John Dean, at to-day's meeting of the Franklin Electric Power Roa<rd when a letter was received from the Franklin sub-provincial branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union asking the board for reductions in their charges for power. Mr. Dean said that owing to new legislation last year and the necessity for higher wages and shorter hours, the •board has found it necessary to budget for an additional annual cost of over £4000. During the period of the depression. the board had run very close to the bonier line with its finance in giving, reductions when they were hardly warranted. and as a result they were noc in a position at present to give any further reductions. In addition, the board had for several years been requesting' the Oovernment to reduce its charges for bulk power, but the requests were all unsuccessful. L T ntil the Government could see its way clear to reduce its charges, it was most unlikely that the board would be able to reduce its charges much further.

The lioard referred the matter to the chairman and the secretary. Mr. H. J. McDowall, to reply to the union.