HUTT POWER RATES

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 143, 19 June 1931, Page 12

HUTT POWER RATES

DISCOUNT INCREASED

BOARD dIVES UP £3750

A. decision to increase the .discount allowed' on all charges for electricity from Id in the shilling to 1M in the shilling as well as to reduce certain minimum charges iinder different, rates, was.'made.by the Hutt Valley liiledrie Power Board yesterday after a discussion^ that lasted for nearly two and a. half hours. The granting of the exlra discount will mean the passing on to consumers during .the coming year of approximately £37. r)0. (The present discount represents £7500, and discount at lid' in the shilling represents £11,250.) , i

The board,.in committee, at its meet ing last month had passed a. resolution reducing the unit charges for lighting, underrates "A" (for domestic supply), "B" (for shops, offices, factories, halls, etc.), an.d "G" (for churches and public schools), by id a unit all round. Pursuant to notice, Mr. L. Stewart, at yesterday's meeting moved that that resolution be rescinded. He strongly protested against schools, churches, and halls for public entertainments being given a reduction when their present rates compared more than favourably with those offered by any other New Zealand supply authority. The revenue got by the board from schools .and churches was practically nothing. Halls were used only for pleasure, overspending on which was one of the causes of tho present depression. The best contributors to the board were the domestic consumers, who provided approximately two-thirds of its revenue. They were passing through difficult times ajid it was the duty/of the boa.rd to assist them by allotting to them any moneys to-be given-back to1 consumers. For ygars, he said, the board had been in the habit of calling itself the best board in New Zealand. Were they not suffering from strained arms as the result of the continual pats on the back ■they, had been giving themselves? They had the makings of the best board m New Zealand, but they were not the best. Hundreds in the Valley were suffering from unemployment and reduced wages, and he appealed to tho board to give them some consideration. Mr. S. Blackley seconded the motion, arid it was supported by Mr. J. "W.M'Ewan and Mr. W. H. P. Barber. Mr. A. J. Hobbs.was against-rescind-ingthe board's previous resolution. If they did rescind it further discussion would bring them to .practically the same decision again. Schools, churches, and shopkeepers were deserving of as much consideration as any-other consumers. Mr. W. H. "Lawrence also opposed the motion. He said that as the board was supplying a commodity used by all el asses it should do its bost to give them all the lowest rate it could. "You can't do that until you rescind the motion -. which favours only thrco classes,'' said Mr. Barber. Mr. A. W. Press supported Mr. Stewart. The board's resolution was not fair to all consumers, and was not helping the board to sell power to users of ranges. The whole question should be-reopened. -^ n Though he dia not agree with an Mr. Stewart had said, Mr. A. Anderson supported-the motion. ■ ' The motion to rescind was put to the Meeting and carried by 7 votes to 4.Tha adoption of the recommendation ol the engineer-general manager (Mr. E F Hollands) to increase the discount from Id to'lja in the shilling, ana to make other minor reductions and changes in the. rates was moved by Mr. Blackley. and'seconded by Mr. E. Wrndley. . y' It-.would be "useless'to reduce the price-of current to such an extent that in ia; few, months it would have to be increased again, said Mr. Hobbs. By giving;the extra, half-penny in the shilling to all consumers, he thought that tfie board was cutting things too fine, and for that reason it would be better to give, a reduction to rate A consumers only though he would like to see it over rates "A", "B", and "C' -Mr-A. J. M'Curdy moved as an amendment'the adoption of an alternative recommendation by the engineergeneral manager that the unit rates for current be reduced, the discounts to remain the same. ■According to. the engmeer-general manager the adoption of this scheme would mean the refunding to ratepayers during the coming year of £12,000, as against ■ £11,250 under the extra discount scheme. The extra discount scheme would apply to all consumers alike, whereas the reduced unit charges would favour the lighting users rather more.

Mr. Blackley submitted that the Tjoard shonld be fair to all consumers and not discriminate between lighting, heating, and cooking.. .In. seconding Mr. -M'Curdy's amendment Mr. Hobbs said that the users of ranges had ;been well "considered in the

past, and it .was the lighting users who should be considered now.

Mr. Stewart said that when he had had rescinded the board's original resolution regarding rate reductions, it was with the intention of having, all the discounts to bo given to consumers given to lighting consumers, uuder rate "A." Ho would move that, as another amendment. Manufacturers had been given a discount in power charges last year, and were enjoying cheaper rates than were given by any other board in ls rew- Zealand. Only in domestic light-ing-was the Hutt Valley Board dearer, than other power boards. The lighting user's had been "carrying the baby" i'or other consumers.

The opinion of Mr. Barber was that it would be grossly unfair to give the whole, of the benefit to lighting: consumers. The distribution should be equal throughout. It was the policy of the board to encourage the use of electric cookers, and to do- this a reduction in charges would "be more effective 'than demonstrations. Ho would support Mr. Blackley's motion to . give extra discounts aII round. They would thereby encourage cooking and ultimately be able to make still bigger reductions in lighting charges.

Mr. A. Auderso'n agreed that cooking and- heating rates" had been fair, and lighting rates had been heavy.

Mr. M'Curdy's amendment, to reduce unit charges favouring particularly lighting users, was put and lost, only Messrs. M'Curdy, Hobbs, M'Bwan, and Anderson voting for it.

Mr. Stewart's amendment to give the whole reduction to lighting consumers, was seconded, pro forma, by Mr. M'Ewan, and was lost, only Messrs. Stewart and M'Ewan supporting it.

The one dissentient to Mr. Blackley.'s motion."was Mr. Anderson, and 'the motion was accordingly carried.