ELECTRICITY FOR FARMS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LX, Issue 10826, 24 March 1932, Page 3

ELECTRICITY FOR FARMS

Power Board Seeks Concession. NOT GRANTED BY COUNCIL. At the meeting of the Tauranga Borough Council on March 1(5 the Electricity Committee reported that they met on March 11. when a deputation from the Tauranga Electric Power Board, consisting of Messrs T. Lochhead. J. M. Darragh, G. H. Mends, H. G. Lever, the Secretary Olr Chambers) and Engineer (Mr Bongard) attended.

Mr Lochhead asked that the Council give the Power Board a concession which would be passed on to the Board's consumers.

The Secretary staled that the Board had lost consumers to the extent of £4lB owing to the financial stringency. The Board proposed to give consumers a concession of £9OO

and asked the Council to give £450. This reduction to he for one year only a.nd after (hat (he Board would take the whole burden. Ho slated the Power Board's average charge was 3ld per unit. The matter was referred by the Council to the Electricity Committee to report upon. The Electricity Committee in a report presented to the Council at last night’s meeting, regretted it could not recommend that the request be granted; and that the resolution be conveyed to the Board in person by His -Worship the Mayor. The Mayor, in referring to the Committee’s report said it was not so long ago that the Council gave a concession to the Power Board. The finances of the Electricity Department would not he so buoyant as formerly as the Arapuni works would he soon again in commission. The Electricity Committee felt that if any concession were to be made the turn of the people in the town had come. The Council had to meet immediately a loan which was falling due. Ho moved-—That the report of the Committee he adopted.

Cr lies seconded the motion. He said he knew of no Board in New Zealand that was buying bulk current cheaper than the Tauranga Power Board. The Council had met the Board very materially, and the question of lesser charges to the Board was out of the question. The Council was having its difficulties and had little or nothing to come and go on. The Electricity Department was not altogethe a gold mine. He felt it was impossible to offer the Board any reduction at Hie present time.

The Mayor’s motion was put and carried.