Power Boards Seek Distribution Monopoly

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28895, 15 May 1959, Page 12

Power Boards Seek Distribution Monopoly

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 14. City and borough electricity supply authorities should retire gracefully from the field and leave their function to the power boards, said Mr A. M. Cousins, counsel for the Electric Power Boards’ Association, in opening his submissions to the commission of inquiry into electricity distribution today. While they acknowledged the cities and boroughs had played an important part in the pioneering of distribution, the power boards had proved to be the most satisfactory distributors, said Mr Cousins. If the power boards were given full control, many of the present problems of distribution would present much less difficulty. The chairman of the Electric Power Boards’ Association (Mr

Dowse) amplified Mr Cousins’ introduction and said his association also wished to see the maintenance of the democratic system of election to the power boards. The boards must remain autonomous and have the right to fix their own tariffs without outside interference and subject only to the electors. The profits from the sale of electricity should be used solely for the benefit of consumers. The commission will hear other submissions from the power boards tomorrow.