POWER BOARD’S HEADQUARTERS.

Evening Star, Issue 21193, 29 August 1932, Page 8

POWER BOARD’S HEADQUARTERS.

Thkbe is an old saying in New Zealand politics to the effect that the dead hand does not rule. Apparently there are some members of the Otago Power Board who do not feel bound by past decisions. There is at present a movement to transfer the board’s offices from Dunedin to Milton. It has ’already been voted upon, hut the opponents of the change have managed to havo final decision postponed to next month’s meeting. This matter was discussed two years ago in the report presented by Messrs J. R. Templin and G. W. Reid, who had boon appointed by the board to analyse its whole position, then, very difficult, as a result of agitation by ratepayers, who brought pressure to bear per medium of the Otago branch of the Farmers’ Union. That report was very exhaustive and extremely helpful, so far as wise advice can be considered as a substitute for adequate revenue. As has been stated, this commission of inquiry dealt with the location of the board’s offices. In view of the renewal of agitation on behalf of Milton as the centre, it may be useful to quote some passages from the 1930 report:—“We have examined this matter from various angles, and havo reached the conclusion that, under ail the circumstances, the best location for the board’s headquarters is Dunedin. There is no electric supply authority in New Zealand working under more adverse conditions than the Otago Board as to its areas of supply. In most boards the district being supplied is in one continuous area and the power board’s headquarters are located more with reference to the geographical position than the centre of load. This hoard is now controlling two separate areas with a gap of thirty-five miles between, and each area is of sufficient magnitude to require more than superficial supervision. The engineering staff should be so located that it can reach either area in the minimum time in eases of trouble.” After pointing out the necessity for a central workshop for repairs and a stores depot, the report states that the cost of transport and the avoidance of delay in obtaining heavy materials was a factor in guiding the commissioners to their decision in favour of Dunedin as against Milton. The report pointed out the dislocation of an extensively trained staff through the removal of its headquarters from Dunedin, this outweighing the argument that if the offices were’ in Milton ratepayers or members of their families would havo better opportunities to secure appointments on the staff. It was also pointed out that Milton’s selection would mean such benefits, and others arising from local business transactions would accrue to the area enjoying lower charges from current than any other as well as exemption from rating. The inconvenience to ratepayers in the northern area who had occasion to visit head office was stressed if Milton had to be reached, and as to the alleged economy because of rentals in Milton being lower than in Dunedin tho report stated that this was probably illusory, as there was every likelihood of tho board having to incur capital outlay to secure suitable premises in Milton, which liability tho board’s finances were not in a position to stand. Since then it is doubtful if the board’s finances havo sufficiently improved to permit of such considered advice as the above being disregarded; further than which the board has in the meantime acted on the commission’s recommendation to cut down rentals by rearrangement in respect of its Dunedin offices and stores. 7 may be as well to recall that the 1930 commission found that tho working expenses of the Otago Board wore not on an extravagant scale on tho “per consumer” basis, tbo real trouble being that the revenue earned ou the capital outlay was below ’-e nvcr.-.g?. There was an ini: in I fistiU in that, re t i -illation r.->t

being carried out on the usual guaranteed revenue basis, the re - . -iiuo per consumer is less than the average of other power boards, and this handicap is accentuated by the scattered nature of the population over the greater part of the board’s area. To the remedying of this the board’s whole energies should bo directed, instead of being dispersed in what appear to the outsider to be mere local jealousies.