PROPOSED MERGER.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 3168, 15 November 1927, Page 5

PROPOSED MERGER.

The Hon. K. 8. Williams, Minister of Public Works, replying to a letter from the Board, stated that following a discussion with members of the SpringsEllesmere Power Board recently in Wellington, it had been decided that the question of handing over supply to the Islington Freeing Works and other large consumers at present supplied by the Public Works Department, should be left over until after the conference of local supply authorities which was being called to discuss the whole question of power supply in the districts adjacent to Chfistchurch. The Department's officers were endeavouring to arrange a suitable time and place for the conference, of which the Board would be formally advised at an early date. jMr D. Jones, M.P., acknowledged a j letter of appreciation from the Board, and enclosed a letter he had received from the Minister of Public Works, which stated that the Springs-Elles-mere Power Board's request that only supply authorities or proposed authorities should be invited to the conference to be held in Christchurch would receive every consideration. Messrs Templin and Toogood, consulting electrical engineers, writing in reference to the proposed conference, stated that some of the bodies licensed to distribute current had registered a protest against any powers they possessed being taken away. A letter was also received from the District Electrical Engineer, Public Works Department, Christchurch, suggesting November 17 as a suitable date for the proposed conference of supply authorities. The conference was being called with a view to considering the formation of a power board to cover I the territory between the Waimakariri | and Eakaia rivers. .The invitation and particulars of the matters to be discussed would be sent to the Board direct !by the Minister, of Public Works, but the writer had been asked to fix a suitable date and had selected, provisionally, November 17. The secretary said he had replied stating that the date would suit the Springs-Ellesmere Board, but he had not received any further communication. He took it, therefore, that the conference would be held at a later i date than November 17. l On the motion of Messrs Maginness and Kime it was decided to again ask the Minister of Public Works to hand over the large consumers in the Board's district at present supplied directly by the Public Works Department. The secretary was instructed to point out that the busy season with the Freezing Works would begin shortly and that the Board was anxious to have the benefit of the full season's operations. Members were of the opinion that even if the forthcoming conference decided upon a merger, it would take some considerable time to give effect to the decision. Copies of the letter are to be sent to Mr D. Jones, M.P. and Messrs Templin and Toogood. Mr Maginness expressed the opinion that there would be no merger unless the Minister insisted upon it. The j supply authorities would not agree to j amalgamate and the conference would prove abortive. The chairman said he did not consider that the Minister had power to insist upon a merger taking place. Mr Maginness; He has power to say

that a petrol tax of 4d a gallon, shall be paid, and the people have to pay it. The chairman: That is an entirely different matter. The petrol tax was imposed by regulation. The merging of electricity supply authorities could not be brought about in that way. It was agreed that the chairman should consult with members in the event of the proposed conference being called before the Board's next meeting. INCREASE IN VOLTAGE. The Chief Electrical Engineer, Public Works Department, Wellington, in acknowledging receipt of the Board's letter asking permission to increase the voltage on certain lines from 3,300 to ! 6,600, stated that existing conductors , could be used, and, as it was assumed that they would be unbound to substi- j tute 6,600 volt insulators, it was recom- ' mended that the tension in the present lines be reduced and sag values in accordance with the sag and tension tables issued with the 1927 regulations. The reply was considered to be quite satisfactory. SINKING FUND COMMISSIONER. The District Public Trustee advised that the Public Trustee had aeeepted the office of Commissioner for the Board's No. 4 loan. It was necessary that the Board pass a resolution fixing the rate of the sinking fund, namely one per cent, per annum and the dates on which instalments were to be paid. The necessary resolution was passed. MORE REGULATIONS. A circular letter from the Chief Electrical Engineer called attention to Regulation 226 (m), compliance with which was compulsory before July 12, 1929, otherwise electric lines not equipped with the necessary earth leakage relays would be classified as dangerous and permission to continue using such lines would not be granted. . The engineer said he had already noted the regulation. SUPPLY OF CURRENT. The necessary guarantee having been given, an application from the manager of Mr L. White's property, at Lakeside, for supply of current, was granted. The engineer outlined the arrangement he proposed to make with the Canterbury Jockey Club for supply of current for water pumping, lighting and working the totalisator. This was approved by the Board.

FINANCE. Accounts for payment totalled £514 Is Id (Power fund account £71 15s Sd, 5 No.. 2 loan account £43 ss, No. 3 loan | account £43 10s 4d, No. 4 loan account | £355 10s Id). The credit balances were: Power fund account £757 7s sd, No. J loan £30 2s 4d, No. 2 loan £47 Is Bd, JNo. 3 loan £1537 12s 9d, No. 4 loan £390 11s lid.