BANKS PENINSULA BOARD

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27633, 14 April 1955, Page 7

BANKS PENINSULA BOARD

INDIVIDUAL RATIONING SCHEME REJECTED

After rejecting a proposal to introduce individual consumer rationing, the Banks Peninsula Electric Power Board, at a recent meeting, decided to authorise the -engineer (Mr F. A. Lewthwaite) to arrange cuts to keep the board’s savings to the average savings of the South Island authorities.

A petition, signed by 33 Governor’s Bay residents, and two other letters, asked the board not to introduce consumer rationing, but to adhere to the cuts and restrictions on water heating imposed last winter. Mr R. Bruce said he felt that the board had done a good job in saving power last winter, and consumption had been below that of most other supply authorities. He thought.the board should aim to keep consumption down to the South Island average. The cost of operating consumer rationing in the board’s scattered district could be as high as £lOOO.

On his motion, seconded by Mr H. W. Menzies, the engineer was instructed to regulate cuts to keep th? board at the average. The Rural Reticulation Council wrote that a subsidy at 7| per cent, on capital cost up to £7862 had been approved for the extension of the system to take in settlers at Kinloch, Little River.

The board decided to apply to the loans board for sanction to. raise a loan of £13,290 to extend the power to Kinloch, Land’s End, and Little Pigeon Bay.