HELP FOR AUCKLAND POWER BOARD

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25300, 27 September 1947, Page 10

HELP FOR AUCKLAND POWER BOARD

COSTS OF COURT CASE TO BE PARTLY DEFRAYED

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, September 26. Assistance in defraying the costs incurred by the Auckland Electric Power Board an lengthy litigation after a fire in the Auckland premises of John Burns and Co., Ltd., in 1941, was agreed upon by the nineteenth conference of the Electric Power Board’s and Supply Authorities’ Association. The case, which was finally taxen to the Privy Council, determined the degree of responsibility of New Zealand Power Boards for damage done by fire caused by faulty installations on consumers’ premises. The chairman, Mr J. A. Nash, said the Auckland board’s action had been of great service to gill supply authorities and power boards, and it was hardly fair that Auckland should be saddled with the heavy costs entailed. The executive had considered the subject many times, and recommended that larger authorities should subsidise the Auckland board. An executive member, Mr M. E. Lyons (Christchurch) said the Auckland board was suffering a net loss of £3BOO. He proposed that the authorities named by the executive should raise £1250 of that amount. Warm support was given the proposal, which was carried unanimously.