MID-CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20088, 18 November 1930, Page 9

MID-CANTERBURY

ashburton. reply to criticism. Ihe criticism levelJed at the operation of the Ashburton Power Board by meetings of power consumers in three centres of the Ashburton County recently was the subject of special consideration at the Power Board's meetlnS' yesterday. The Lauriston branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union wrote stating that it had carried the following resolution: '' That the Union views with alarm the present position of the Power Board, and urges that the Board adopt a policy of drastic economy.'' The Mayfield branch of the Farmers' Union wrote stating that at a meeting of approximately 50 electric power consumers at Mayfield, the following resolution was carried: —-''That this meeting strongly protests against the extravagant methods in running the business of the Ashburton Power Board, and suggests that the Board practise more rigid ecouomy, as a means of meeting the deficiency with which ihe Board is now faced.''

In reply, Mr H. G. Kemp (engineersecretary) prepared a comprehensive report, which stated that it was ''ol generally realised that, of the operating expenditure of the Board, 77 per cent, wars taken in paying interest, linking fund, and for Lake Coleridge power. Only 23 per cent, was in the class of expenditure on which economies may be made. Administration and general amounted to .11 per cent, in J927-2S, 9.4 per cent, in 1928-29, and 8.3 per cent, in 1929-30. There was a further reduction of £59 for the past six months ending September, compared with the corresponding period last year. The expenditure on distribution maintenance was largely dependent on the amount of storm damage incurred, as was illustrated by the fact that for the six months ended September 31th last, there was a reduction in that item of £964 lis lOd, compared with the corresponding period last year. The salaries paid by the Board had been widely discussed and the amounts had been greatly exaggerated. The criterion of whether the Board was paying too much for its administration was the number of administrative employees on other Power Boards, and the salaries paid to them. Some Boards of only half the size of Ashburton were employing the same .number of principal officers, and paying approximately the same total salaries. The sales department had always paid running expenses, and last year had paid overhead as well. At least 75 per cent, of the increased load was obtained by the efforts of this department. A department which cost the Board nothing to operate and which produced about £3OOO per annum of add'tionfl revenue appeared a sound business proposition. Apart from 'he special authorities for advances to consumers and for trading stocks, loan money was expended only on additional capital works. Tho allocation of loan funds was very carefully watched by the Audit Department. The situation in which the Board recently found itself was that owing to a fall in revenue from rural consumers, the Board was supplying electricity to about 2;> per cent, of its consumers at considerably less th:in the co=;t nf giving the service. The reports of the affairs of other Boards were dealt with in committee.

On resuming, the chairman reported that the salaries of the principal officers ot the Ashburton Board were the lowest of those of fifteen other Boards with which they had been compared. He was satisfied that no part of their expenditure could be cut down without interfering with the service. Mr W. T. Lill said they had not made enough of the excellent manner in which the Power Board's business had been ruD. Ha thought that the great mass of the ratepayers would appreciate the information. "The general opinion is that t.he Board is galloping to bankruptcy," said the chairman. "rt is my honest opinion that Mr Kemp more than saves his salary. lie is a verr valuable officer. '' Mr J. W. M. Dart said that, from the information supplied, it seemed that Ashburton was the most, cheaply run of any of the Boards. It was a pity that responsible body like the Mayfield Farmers' Union should make such accusations without enquiring into the position, Personal. Mesdanies J. H. Grigg (Ashburton), A. IST. Grigg (Mount Somers), A. 11. Sandry (Lauriston-BarrhiM), and S. Smith (Methven) left for Wellington last evening to represent their respective branches at the biennial conference of Plunket Societies, which opens to-day. Miss E. Gates, the other Ashburton delegate, left on Saturday evening. Dr. G. ,T. S. Fisher. who lias been on a trip abroad, has returned to New Zealand and is visiting Ashburton. Y.P.C.T.tr. The annual meeting of the Ashburton branch of the Y.P.C.T.U. was held on Saturday evening, when the president (Mr I' 1 . Silcock) presided. The annual report, which showed that the year had been a satisfactory one, was adopted. The balance-sheet was held over until the closing social. The election of officers resulted as follows: —President, Mr F. - Silcock; vice-presidents, Misses L. Tucker and V. McLauchlan, Sister Mildred, the liev. Mr Verco, and Messrs N. Corbett and W. Bishop; assistant secretary and treasurer, Miss E. Beck; superintendent of medical temperance, Miss Nish; "White Ribbon"' and "Beacon" agent, Miss D. Pritchard; badge agent, Mr E. Scott; pianist, Miss M. McLean; librarian, Mr R. Ford. The offices of secretary and treasurer were held over for consideration by the executive. A number of sub-committces were also elected. The president eulogised the work of the retiring secretary (Miss M. Lewis). A vote of sympathy was passed to the Corbett brothers in their recent bereavement. Power Board. At the monthly meeting of the Ashburton Power Board yesterday there were present: Messrs F. W. Watt (chairman), J. W. M. Dart, W. T. Lill, W. 11. Rundle, W. 11. Woods, S. Smith, A. Horsey, W. Bryant, E. F. Nicoll, and 11. Morris. The financial statement showed that the revenue t'or last month was £3271 Os 4d, an increase of £39 14s on the revenue for October, 1929. The chairman reported that there was a refund of £216 9s 5d due to the Board from the Public Works Department, representing an allowance for the current which was not supplied during the shortage at Lake Coleridge. The Ashburton County Council wrote asking for an allowance in their account for street lighting during the period of restriction. The Board decided that it could not agree to the request, as the Board had not been compensated by the Department for the loss of revenue. The chairman said that if the CounJ cil was given a refund similar applicaI tions would be received from other local bodies.

The Canterbury Prog: ess League was voted £2 2s towards tli? expenses incurred in organisation during the period of restriction of Lake Coleridge power. The chairman reported that an application had been received from the Progress? League asking the Board to link up with the League. The' Finance Committee had considered the matter and recommended that while it realised the value of the League's work, it was not advisable to accede to the request at the present period. This was agreed to. It was decided to raise a loan of £.4000, being the balance of the first portion of £30.000 under the authority of the Local Government Loans Board to raise £85.000. The report of the engineer (Mr H. G. Kemp) gave details of work done during the past month. The report of the running engineer (Mr A. T. Saunders) stated that_ the units supplied from Lake Coleridge totalled 021.400, and those from the Diesel plant 77,286. The maximum demand on the station was 1330 k.v.a., on October 14th, anil the maximum demand on Coleridge was 1200 k.v.a., on the same date. The Diesel plant had been running for 713 hours 45 minutes. The inspector (Mr W. G. Welsh) reported that the house wiring staff had been kept busy during the month on installation work. There was also a fair amount in hand, including several milking plants and other work which could be attended to . now that the power shortage had eased off. During the month seven ranges, 14 motors, 27 meters, and nine consumers had been connected, making the respective totals (575, 1104, 5318, and 35C9. A comprehensive report 011 Ihe income and expenditure for the six months ending September 30th was furnished by Mr Kemp, showing that the revenue of £.21,970 2s 4d was an increase of £S46 17s Sd compared with the corresponding period of last year. however. The deficiency was largely due to the falling-off of rural revenue reported last month, while the restrictions due to the power shortage at Lake Coleridge would have a slight effect. The failure of revenue to reach the estimate had been offset to a considerable extent by a heavy decrease iu expenditure. The excess of expenditure of £B7l 7s 5d compared with a corresponding amount of £1362 2s 7d last year, and therefore showed an improvement of £.490 15s 2d for the half-year. Borough Council. The Ashburton Borough Council met last evening, when the Mayor (Mr K. Galbraith) presided. There were also present Messrs F. Z. D. Ferriman, W. H. Bundle, E. H. Orr, J. Thompson, .T. Watson, R. A. Collins, J. McElhinney, E. Kerr, and F. W. Seldom The Mayor reported that the amount received since the previous meeting had totalled '£356 4e 9d. With regard to the Council's request that Ashburton should be included as a place of call in the proposed air mail service, the Postmaster-General (Hon. .J. B. Donald) wrote stating that the request had been noted for consideration when arrangements were l>eing made for the service. . . * In connexion with the Council s proposal to carry out some lcerbing and channelling work to relieve unemployment, at a cost of £450. if the Go\ernment would grant a £2 for £1 subsidy, the Under-Secretary of the Public Works Department wrote stating j that the district engineer at Christchurch had been asked for a report, and the Council would be communicated with as soon as possible. Replying to the Council's letter regarding the reforming and metalling of Trevor's road from Wellington street to Nelson street, the Wakanui Road Board wrote stating that the chairman and another member of the Board had been asked to inspect the road and report. The Council was advised that the annual inspection of the Ashburton

Volunteer Fire Brigade would take place to-morrow evening. The Finance and By-laws Committee reported that they had carefully considered the proposed amendments to the Motor Vehicle Regulations in connexion with the licensing of drivers, and recommended the Council to protest emphatically against the proposed amendments as they considered them cumbersome and unnecessary, and they would entail a good deal of additional expense. The present regulations were, in their opinion, working satisfactorily. The report was adopted. The Works Committee recommended the Council to proceed with the work of surfacing Last street on tlie lines set out by the consulting engineer, and forward the plans and specifications to the Main Highways Board for approval. The report was adopted. The Water' Committee reported with reference to the application from the j Ashburton East School Committee, foi a reduction in the charge tor water to their school, that they had given tins matter consideration, and had 110 recommendation to make. The report was adopted. A deputation from the loreaters Juvenile Lodge waited on the Counci and asked permission to play cricket and football on Mona square. The application was granted, free of cost for one year, provided the ground was kept in order. An application from the Ashburton Croquet Club, asking that its larges court be extended to regulation size, was referred to the Domain CommittCThe Mayor of Lltliam (Mr J. 1. Bridger) forwarded details of a land settlement scheme for the relief of unemployment.—The letter was received, and no action was taken. ■ The inspector reported that he ha< issued ten motor drivers licenses, making a total of 884. Uuilding permits for dwellings cos i ß <r £BBO. and £7OO were granted. petition, signed by thirteen ratena'vers, was received objecting to a coffee stall being stationed m MOOI e street, on the ground that the sUnd was in the vicinity of a private right-of-way and would encourago loitering at the back of the premises. The Mavor said that the petitioners should allow the stall to have a trial,

and if it proved objectionable then tliey could inform the Council. It was decided to adjourn to the site referred 10. RAKAIA. The following rinks have been selected to represent Uakaia Bowling Club in a pennant match against Allenton at Allenton 011 Saturday: —Holmes (skip), Milne, Cooke, Bryant; Hardy (skip). Weaver, Evison, Henderson, Newman (skip), Black. Palmer, Finlay; Tatterson (skip), Conway, Rapley. Cronin; emergencies. C. Shannon, S." Gardiner, For the Rakaia Bowling Clubs singles championship, twenty-one entries have been received. The draw for sections is". — Section I—Holmes. Conway. Orarainer. Rapley, J. Cromie, Hardy, and Henderson. . Section 2—"Weaver. .Newman, I aimer.. Bryant. Black. 1« inlay. and McNamara. „ Section 3—Cooke. Evison. Fagan, Tatterson. Cronin. Shannon, ana On Saturday evening in St. Mark's Schoolroom a very enjoyable social u-as held under the auspices of the Ladies' Guild. There was a large attendance. Competitions were won bT Mrs E Duncan, and Mr Tatterson and a consolation prize was presented to Mrs Tatterson. Music was j supplied by Mr .T. Laulor andextras 'were plaved hy Misses I ismith, and E. Houghton. Dunne the songs were contributed by Mr Malde . Weaver was M.C.