ELECTRIC POWER

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 96, 20 October 1933, Page 7

ELECTRIC POWER

M THE HUTT VALLEY

AMALGAMATION WITH CITY

An interesting, although largely intortnal, discussion took place at yesterday's meeting of the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board on the question of amalgamation with the city, the cost of power to the board's consumers, and comparisons with ■fhe electricity department of the City Council.

The chairman (Mr. A. Anderson) said with reference to the cost of electricity, that if. amalgamation meant a decreased cost to the consumer no objection could be taken to it. The cost of current as supplied by the Government would be cheaper than at present, and less would be paid in rates. The matter arose when Mr. 5. .Blackley said that some friendly criticism had Vieen levelled at the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board by the City Council, but the comparison of returns did not show the Hutt Valley board in an unfavourable light. The total capital expenditure of the City Council stood at £1,168,552 on March 31, 1933, while at the same time the total capital outlay of the Hutt Valley board was £386,415. The capital outlay of the Hutt Valley board per consumer was £34 10s, as against £40 for the City Council. It had been said that the Hutt Valley board was going in for an extravagant electrical scheme, but figiires showed quite the reverse. The total inumber of consumers of the City Council >vas 35,444, and the Hutt Valley board's consumers totalled 11,192, which he cohjsidered very good, considering the difference in population. , It was pointed out by speakers that the 'density in the Wellington eitys' area was Much greater than that in the Hutt Valley i hoard's area. I