POWER CONSUMPTION

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 22, 27 July 1928, Page 6

POWER CONSUMPTION

FINANCING NEW BUSINESS RATEPAYERS' ? RIGHTS At the conference of tho Electric Power Boards and Supply Authorities yesterday, Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P., presided. Mr. 1\ W. Watt (Ashburton) moved: "(1) For the purposes of providing extension Hues required where guarantees arc given, and of strengthening transmission lines to enable a greater load to be carried, the board may by special order raise a loan over either the whole or some defined portion or portions of its district, the amount to be raised in any one year not to exceed 5 per cent, of. the original authorised loan raised for tho construction of the undertaking. (2) In the alternative, it shall be lawful for the board, for either of the above purposes, to levy in any year a separate rate either on the whole or on some defined portion or portions of its district, the amount.of such rate to be within the limits prescribed in paragraph (1) hereof." Mr. J. W. Kershaw (Wairarapa), in seconding the remit, said that it was found that in a sound position, with plenty of business offering, when loans wero expended, boards had no means of further building up their loads, and taking advantage of the demand. Questioned, Mr. Watt said that the maximum loan' proposed was the amount the board could- profitably expend in getting business. Mr. P. Baume (Gisborue) said that this would bo contrary to all democratic principles, and savoured too much of Order in Council methods. It was wrong to give a board power to rais;' money contrary to the wishes of the ratepayers. .■',--.' ■ Mr. J. Kennedy (South Canterbury) supported the remit. Ashburton had groat prospects and a great amount of capital laid out, which could be made more fully remunerative. Tho chairman said that the remit was one with which many would not agree, but ho thought the addition of "with the consent of the Minister" after the word "order" would make it mofo acceptable. -The Local Bodies' LoansBoard carefully safeguarded the public, as the Government would not act without its approval. There wero communities tho,'bulk of whom were served by Bewerage and other schemes which selfishly refused to extend by vote those facilities to those who had not yet got them. - But the Local Bodies' Loans Board on-the other hand, prevonted wild-cat schemes, and if the Minister's consent were stipulated; the remit would be,-safe- •■■'■ :-'•'. •- ;;: '• '. . ''■""■■■ :■ 'Mr. Watt reminded the •: conference that all 'loans had to pass before the Local Bodies Loans Board, but he willingly accepted tho chairman's addition. • . . „ „ Mr. W. J. Holdsworth (Auckland) ot posed any legislation depriving the ratepayers of the right to agree. or refuse, but said that once the scheme was installed the ratepayers would welcome, instead of deprecating, extensions, This was a remit which would omit all boards, but it was well safeguarded. ' • ' . , ... l. v" The remit was earned without dissent, amended as suggested.