POWER CHARGES IN CITY

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22120, 16 June 1937, Page 8

POWER CHARGES IN CITY

BUSINESSMEN MEET TO PROTEST GOVERNMENT COMMISSION SUGGESTED RESULT OF DEPUTATION AWAITED If representations by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce for a reduction in charges for electricity used by commercial consumers in the city are not successful, a petition will be circulated among these consumers seeking the appointment of a commission by the Government to investigate the charges made by the Municipal Electricity Department. This decision was made last night at a meeting of city businessmen called by Mr R. B. Owen to "protest against unfair lighting rates." There was an attendance of 11, representing Messrs McKenzie and Willis, Angas and Sons, H. Vincent, Kellaway and Son. J. M. Oakley, R. B. Owen, the Fountain of Health Milk Bar, McEwin's Milk Bar, Tuck's, Ltd., G. W. Drayton and Company, Ltd., and the Christchurch Newsagents' and Stationers' Association. Five apologies for absence were received. Mr W. Tuck presided. The chairman said the chief grievance was that commercial users had to pay a maximum demand rate of 4d a unit, while domestic users paid a maximum rate of 3d a unit, except for cooking and heating. If the City Council would give the commercial users a flat rate there would be no more protests. Mr Owen said that figures supplied by large business houses in the city showed they were paying an average of 2d a unit and more for lighting, and in many cases the rate was 3d a unit If commercial users were given a flat rate of, say, 3d a unit, cutting cut the maxjnum demand, they would be satisfied. It was not considered that the rates for domestic users were uniair. The balance-sheet of the Municipal Electricity Department for the year ended March 31, 1936, showed a balance of assets over liabilities ol £505,588, and he considered that with the department in such a sound position more thought should be given to the commercial user. Investigation By Experts "I see that Cr. Lyons is willing to accept an investigation by an expert engineer," he added. "Seeing that this meeting is so small, I am not sure whether we should pass a motion accepting that invitation. Quite a few people have promised to support a fund for that purpose. There may be many who would welcome that form of inquiry. It is a fair offer and we would find out where we are." "Mr Owen has given us many very convincing facts to show that the department has a lot of money it hardly knows what to do with," commented the chairman. "The department can pull down a palatial building and put up another in its place, but we cannot get any reduction in charges." "The present profiteering policy of the department was instigated by a lar-seeing citizen who had the idea of establishing a city-owned generating plant," said Mr Owen in- reply to a question. "That plant was to be at the head of the Waimakariri, and with (lie object of getting the money it set out definitely on a profiteering policy." Mr G. W. Drayton said that commercial users paid a higher rate even when power was being used by domestic consumers. That was unjustifiable, but as a rule business people seemed to be fair game for extra charges. "It seems to we we are only beating the air unless we can get some expert advice," said Mr Joseph Willis. "The commercial users should try to get the services of a first-class accountant and a first-class electrical engineer to make an investigation on their behalf All we know is that the department is piling up profits. The commercial users should put their hands in their pockets and get expert advice. You saw in this morning's paper that the department is throwing kilowatts and units at us and laymen cannot deal with that sort of reply." Motion Withdrawn Mr Willis moved that the commercial users employ experts to investigate the business of the department to see if it would be possible to reduce the charges to retailers. This motion was seconded by Mr W. S. Angas, but Mr W. R. Tooth, representing the Christchurch Booksellers' Association, sugges'.ed that no action be taken until a more representative meeting had been held. Delay was also suggested by the chairman, who considered that no action should be taken until the result was known of the deputation to the department from the Chamber of Commerce. An amendment was moved by Mr W. V. Goldwin that, failing a satisfactory result of this deputation, the meeting take steps to circulate a petition asking the Government to appoint a commission to investigate the affairs of the Municipal Electricity Department in relation to the charges made to consumers. This was seconded, and Mr Willis agreed to withdraw his motion. "I think we are doing something silly, seeing that we are such a small meeting," remarked Mr H. Vincent. "We will cause irritation if we do this. It will be a slur on the council to pass this motion. It would be much better to defer decision until w"e know the result of the deputation of the Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. We should be persuasive, not irritating." Mr Tooth: You have to put some dynamite under the council to get it to do anything. When the motion was put, it was carried without dissent.