ELECTRIC POWER BOARD'S POWERS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 50, 27 August 1924, Page 6

ELECTRIC POWER BOARD'S POWERS

TO THE EDITOR,

Sir,—l notice certain -inaccuracies "on the- part of Mr. Pragnell at the deputation to.Mr. Coates relative to rating powers conferred :on electric power boards last*year,',in your "report of the interview, apart from his. inability to quote a single case :of, hardship in any locality or-, undue exercise of : rating powers.by : 'a power board. - . ".:■'■ , Permit me to point out—(l).. That at ho time -during the proceedings was there any. mention*made of borough gasworks . or !gas-'producing installations such aslie'alleges the conference of last year' intended ..to exempt - (2) The remit< on-the Order Paper' were not in-ti-odudeji by the Southland Board. Here are the two items dealing with'the subject:-—- ,- -; ,; j-.,■ v - .;- --"(5) Differential- Kate to Meet Defici- ■ ency. : —^Tha'fc where a power board has, oE.-necessity, to -levy.'a' rate-to meet a deficiency, such board be empowered to 'strike a differential rate as between consumer and' nbn-consnmer: on'".all proper-' tie's; contiguous 'to lines erected • and I evened up, instead of—as at present under_ the Act^—rating all on the same basis.—(Te Awamutu;. also Taranaki and Thames. Valley.) ; v j 6.-Rates mi Non-consumers' Properties.—That pqwers -be .: conferred on] power, boards, to Jevy a fion-consumcrs' ■ rato ; on -properties, -'.within the area,' .within-;..a specified distance of electric ■'lines;—(Thames;Valley.)"' Your readers will-note they, were.'. both North Island remits.- Southland delegates brought with them a draft of that hpard's "Private Bill," .'ivhich\ dealt with similar t matters, and the conference discussed its' provisions in conjunction with remits N05.,5 and 6, ivhich were, after full discussion,. unanimously adopted. At the'recent conference (1924) it was recommended that the 'rates to non-con-sumers, clause 4, sub-section (3) of the 1923 Act, .be reduced to a minimum of five {shillings per annum in lieu- of one pound,/when amending- or consolidating legislation is before Parliament. ... -.

As a matter of fact similar .''differential rating" exists in relation to water supply, drainage, etc., where public-pro-vided, benefits are available, and ■■. not taken'advantage of. . ''■ • The. agitation has been .fomented by one or two gas-producing concerns, and 1 "executives" of chambers of. .'commerce and-local- bodies have'been circularised Kind besought to pass resolutions upon a subject, they have little or no knowledge 'The whole-; of the power/boards- of New.Zealand-catering .for'the wants of tii2 greater portion of the population— ari> behind the Minister in retaining the clause of the Act, which no power bsard has ;o.v : intends Uo. operate unfairly.—l '"':- '• I ANGUS JNO. M'CURDY, . ' . Hon. Secretary' to i923>Coiifercnce.