Hutt Power Board’s Charges

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 286, 29 August 1931, Page 9

Hutt Power Board’s Charges

Sir, —In a time of stress like the present, I would like to suggest that instead of building up a reserve, the power should be supplied to the consumer at practically cost price. Right and left, business people, workers, and others are “up against it.” Some will have to drop out altogether as consumers, but people must have light and cooking, and bad debts will tend to accumulate. In your issue of August 22 the Hutt Valley Power Board’s returns are quoted. For the period from April 1 to July 31 receipts were £57,434, and the expenditure £41,080, leaving a credit balance of £16,353. At that rate the receipts would amount to £4900 in excess of expenditure in twelve months. Though they have now raised the discount to 12} per cent, for prompt settlement, the overall charge per unit is greater to-day than two years ago; so that within 14 days, settlement is a little cheaper, but, if later, it is a little dearer. In other parts of New Zealand publia bodies have reduced salaries, wages honoraria, etc., and passed the reduction on to the public. Surely the Hutt Power Board should do the same. They go on enjoying full salaries, not only unaffected by the slump, but actually benefiting by it from the reduced cost of living; while the unfortunate consumers who supply the funds to keep (hem in their positions are struggling for dear life to keep afloat and pay debts. Ten, per cent, on the salaries and wages quoted in the returns woulB be £1390 in twelve months, which amount should be going into the consumers’ pockets.—l am, etc., NEARLY BROKE. August 27.