A GOOD YEAR

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 119, 22 May 1931, Page 3

A GOOD YEAR

POWER BOARD'S WORK

REVIEW BY CHAIRMAN

That the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board had made very satisfactory progress during the last year, despite the depression through which the country was passing, was th opinion of the retiring chairman (Mr. E. Windley) expressed in a report ho made to the annual meeting of the board yesterday afternoon. "During the year a number of very important works have been carried out," said Mr. Windley. "Especially I would mention the now transmission line to the western area, through the Ngahauranga Gorge, the re-con-struction of the Silvcrstream-Quinn's Post line, and the practical completion of the new transmission line from the Epimi substation to the P.AV.D. substation, Melling. "Considerable alterations were made to the workshops where a new test room was provided and a new garage to house the board's fleet. Alterations were made to the main offices to provide better accommodation, nnd the board is now comfortably housed in the new board room, giving bettor facilities for the handling of the boards growing business. A new mechanical bookkeeping system (authorised prior to my taking office) was. put into operation, and has considerably helped in the general efficiency required for such a large undertaking. i "New rates come into force ia May with a general reduction to the majority of rates and minimum.charges.• "The position disclosed by the bal-ance-sheet, I feel, warrants a few comments. The year's progress, I consider, taking tho depression through which we are passing, is indeed very satisfactory. The total income for the year, after allowing for discounts amounting to £5274 13s Gd, was £100,315 9s Hid. The total expenditure under revenue account was £07,554 Cs 3d, and to this, sinking funds and a debenture redemption1 reserve amounting to £3810 7s Sd must be ;:dded. "Ample provision has been made for depreciation for the year; a recommended sum of £752(5 9s Id has been set aside under this heading, and a renewals reserve of £ 2000. "The capital expenditure for the year amounted io £12,411 5s Od, as compared with £24,970 Us 3d for the previous year. It would appear from the /igures quoted that every care is being exercised in the spending of capital moneys on new work. "The total capital expenditure to date represents a sum of £395,332 3s sd, of which £384,000 has ben raised by way of loans, the balance being contributed from revenue account. There appears to be an amount from authorised loans yet to bo raised, including 10 per cent., of approximates- £"" "'<fl i "The total additional installations that were connected to tho imam . ply during the your 3930-31 are: New consumers 940, now ranges -04. neiv water heaters 241, with an additional connected load of 4857 kilowatts. The number of consumers connected to the board's supply to the 31st March, 1931, was 10,407, with 1337 ranges and 1109 water heaters, the total connected load being 36,883 kilowatts. The highestpeak recorded during the year was 0306 k.v.a. "Covering the transport section tho total mileage for the year 1930-31 was 151,769 miles, and thn benzine used 8649 gallons, representing an average over all vehicles of 17.5 miles per gallon. The transport charges for the year under review wore £1549 19s, a saving against the previous year of £724." Mr. Windley concluded wilh thanks to the board" members, the staff, and