POWER BOARD

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 3271, 13 November 1928, Page 10

POWER BOARD

YESTERDAY'S MEETING,

A monthly meeting of the SpringsEllcsmere Power Boards held at Leeston yesterday, was attended by Messrs A. E. Langdale Hunt, GK Maginness, H. Neave and E. T. McMillan. In the absence of the chairman (Mr J. W. Kime) due to sickness, Mr Neave was voted to the chair. The engineec-sec-retary, Mr L. C. Vieary, was in attendance. NEW MEMBER WELCOMED. The chairman extended a cordial j welcome to the new member of the Board, Mr McMillan. As a member of' the Board for several years prior to the reduction in membership from eleven to five, Mr McMillan had done very valuable work. He had retired to facilitate the reduction in the number of members, but they were very glad indeed to be abte to welcome him back again. Mr Maginness endorsed the welcome extended by the chairman. Replying, Mr McMillan said he had noted with a good deal of pleasure the cordial relationship prevailing between the members. It had been particularly! pleasing to him to notice the steady improvement month by month in the Board's finances. Its position was now very satisfactory indeed, and he hoped the present rate of progress would continue. He had noticed that in his address at Christchurch recently the Prime Minister had "said that by 1940 there would be a surplus of several million pounds annually from electrical undertakings, which would be available for other purposes. He was inclined to think that instead of making substantial profits the Government should [reduce the charges for current supplied !to power boards so that the boards could in turn give lower ratea to their ; consumers. Mr McMillan said, he would do his best to justify the confidence placed in him by the local bodies responsible for the filling of the vacancy. 1 j I INSTALLATION WOBK. j Some discussion took place in regard jto the question of the Board undertaking installation and alteration work in houses, the engineer pointing out that it would be necessary to have additional assistance and motor transport. It was agreed that the engineer should go fully into the matter and bring in a report at next meeting. HALKETT LINE. A list of amounts guaranteed by residents of the Halkett district desirous of becoming consumers was handed in by Mr Hunt. The total amount guaranteed was £219 4s, with every prospect of others coming in. The guarantee askerf for by the Board was £233, the deficiency^ being £13 16s. Mr Hunt said he was quite confident that\ the revenue required would be forthcoming. Mr McMillan said he did not like the idea of using wooden poles for the Halkett or any other line. The steel poles would be cheapest in the long run. It was pointed out that the use of wooden poles would make the initial cost considerably lower. The present revenue prospects scarcely warranted the use of steel poles. The chairman said he did not think it was good policy to use wooden poles. Ho was very reluctant to agree to wooden poles being used if it could possibly be avoided. Upon the motion of Mr Hunt, seconded by Mr Maginness, it was decided to proceed with the Halkett line, the engineer to consider the possibility of using steel poles. ROLLESTON LINE. The engineer said that nothing definite had been arrived at with regard to the proposed Rolleston line. He had nOt been able to get into touch with Mr T. Glen, who was the principal property owner. SHOW COOKERY DISPLAYS. \ Referring to the prizes given by the Board for cookery displays at the Ellesmere Show, Mr Maginness said he urderstood that competition was to be confined to the Power Board's district, but entries had been taken from outside. Ho did not object to the classes being open to competitors in other cllstiicts, provided the power boards in those districts in providing prizes for cookery . displays left them open to competitiors in the Springs-Ellesmere district. He would also suggest that leaflets giving particulars of the competitions should be distributed throughout the Board's district well ahead of next year's show. Other members agreed with Mr Maginness and it was decided to further consider his suggestions when the j money for next year's prizes is being voted. •FINANCES. Accounts for payment were: Power fuml ? £163 14s KM; No. 3 loan, £193

17s; No. 4 loan, £363 Os lid; a total of £720 12s 9d. The credit balances were: Power fund, £1212 0s lOd; No. 2 loan, ■ £731 14s 4d; No. 3 loan, £1212 0s 4d; j No. 4 loan, £2273 17s lid. I POULTRY RAISING. Correspondence was received from Mr T. S. Dave with regard to the charges for current for poultry brooders. There had been some misunderstanding in regard to the rates and conditions stipulated when the brooders were installed. As the heating of brooders by electricity is a comparatively new industry, the Board referred the letter to the engineer with instructions to meet Mr Dove as far as possible. HANSEN'S LANE. The Public Works Department granted the Board permission to tap off the Hansen's lane feeder, subject to certain conditions. It was agreed that the engineer should write the Waimairi County Council making three alternative proposals: (1) That the Board should purchase portion of the Council's Han-1 sen 's lane line in order to serve its consumers in that neighbourhood; (2) that the Council should provide space on its poles for the Board's lines; (3) that the Council remove its lines from the. Board's side of the lane. VARIOUS MATTERS. Mrs Cunningham and family thanked the Board for a framed photograph of the Board taken during the time the late Mr Cunningham was a member. Particulars of the National Provident Fund superannuation scheme for local body employees were received and considered. The scheme will be further considered at next meeting, each member to receive a copy in the meantime. Formal advice was received from the clerk of the Ellesmere County. Council of the appointment of Mr R. T. McMillan as a member of the Board. Mr Hunt mentioned the proposed Bealey road extension which he thought could be gone on with at the same time as the Halkett line if the guarantees were forthcoming. The engineer said he had-taken- the figures out some time ago and they were available at any.- time. It was decided' to set aside £500 from the power fund account to the depreciation reserve.