ELECTRIC POWER CHARGES

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24569, 18 May 1945, Page 4

ELECTRIC POWER CHARGES

* WAIMAIRI AND CITY COMPARED ENGINEER’S COMMENTS ON BOARD ELECTION "For stove and water heating the domestic charge for electricity to Waimairi consumers is lower than the M.E.D. charges, but for a stove only the M.E.D. charge is lower than ours,” said Cr. H. Kitson at last evening’s meeting of the Wsimairi County Council. He made his remarks as comment on the annual report of the electrical engineer (Mr B. Cole-Baker) that the overall revenue a unit sold was 0.68 d, compared with 0.735 d last year, while the average for electricity used for domestic purposes was 0.62 d, as against 0.66 d. It was of interest, Mr Cole* Baker reported, to note that the M.E.D. figures lor 1944 were:—overall, O.V6d; domestic, 0.622 d. Although “averages” had been discredited in the local press as being of little copsequence, they were, nevertheless, the only true measure for overall comparison. Thfe opening part of Mr Cole-Baker’s report read;—“ Having already almost recovered from the effects of the heavy tariff concessions granted only 18 months ago, the electricity department, which is expanding rapidly and is now in an exceptionally strong financial position, can face the future with confidence from all aspects save one. In spite of strong efforts to solve, through the establishment of an electric power district, the problem of . security—security from the menace of piecemeal exclusions—the position has not materially Improved, although this possibility has not yet been eliminated. The peculiar difficulties of the department were officially recognised by the Galway Avenue Commission and by the Government, and it is to be sincerely regretted that the council should have been obstructed in its endeavours to safeguard the interest of consumers and ratepayers by uninformed press criticism and misrepresentation.’’ “This is a reflection on the council,’’ commented Cr. W. J. Walter, Cr. J. Halligan said that Mr ColeBaker probably had in mind the belief that the press had either misconstrued the facts or were misinformed. Mr Cole-Baker said only two lines on electrical questions were given in the newspaper reports of the commission’s findings. It could not be denied that the council favoured (he formation of a power board, but it was thwarted by the Government and by certain sections of the community. Cr. Walter: Who were they? “Go on!—the M.E.D.,” replied Cr. Kitson. ~ , Mr Cole-Baker said the issue had been really the formation of a power board, and there was no doubt that the press was greatly to blame for leading the public to believe that the question was one of the electricity department being passed over to the M.E.D. .. .. Cr. Walter: The council said it wanted the board, and the public said it did not i#ant it. The report was adopted.