GREY POWER BOARD

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 June 1936, Page 5

GREY POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. Tlio monthly meeting of the Grey Electric Power Board was held lust evening. Mr W. H. Parfit presided over an attendance of the following: — Messrs .1. Mulcare, A. Robinson, W. Clay ton, A. 11. McKane, .1. Unwin, J. B. Kent, J. Smeaton, and F. L. Turley. Correspondence was received from the Electric Supply Authorities’ Association, and the Hawke’s Bay Electric Power Board, showing the position of Power Boards and employees, in relation to the Conciliation and Arbitration Act.—lt was decided that copies of the two letters be supplied to members of the Board. The Finance Committee’s report was read and adopted as follow: The balance of account is:—To receipts £4,104/9/9, balance overdraft 31/5/36, £10,858/14/5; total £14,963 4/2. By balance overdraft at 1/5/36, £11,305/10/6, by payments, capital £1,959/8/2; revenue £1,698/5/6; total £3,657/13/8; grand total £14,963/4/2. It is recommended that accounts amounting to £4,072/3/4 be passed for payment. The revenue for May is: Town £1,655/16/5; country. £1.737 12/8; total £3,393/9/1. Loan of £l6,OOO:—A further four debentures have been io; warded-to Wellington and the furtiiei instalment of £4OOO has ben received. A deputation consisting of Messrs Knight, Finn and Duggan waited on the Board, asking for a reduction in guarantees and supply rates for co-operative mines.—lt is recommended that the co-operative miners be advised that the rates of supply and guarantees will be reconsidered at the end of the financial year, as the estimates for this year have already been passed, based on existing figures. Application for power, mining investments: That this application he referred to the Engineer for consideration and reply It is recommended that a Ford coupe and a Chevrolet light delivery be pur- ; chased.

In reply to Mr McKane, the secretary, Mr A. J. McDowall, stated that the revenue for May this year was £lOO ii]) on the revenue for May last year.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Engineer, Mr Sinclair Trotter, submitted the following report for the period. May 20 to June 16: — Arnold River Generating Station. — . The units generated for the past four weeks were 984,600. The highest wekly load factor was 67.8 per cent, and the lowest 64.2 per cent. The outside staff has been engaged on general maintenance, connecting new consumers, restringing cables, and other work in connection with new lines. Most of the general material

. for the Rotomanu line has been re- ; ceived, and we have been advised that [ the remainder of the poles are about to be loaded for shipment to Greymouth. We should receive advice of the shipment of copper cable from Australia in a few days, and this will complete the essentials for proceeding with the erection work, the calling of I tenders having been advertised in various newspapers. A prolonged interruption to supply took place on the north 11,000-volt feeder on Sunday, June 14, due to excavation work being carried out for road deviation on the Briuiner-JBlackball road, caus- ■ ing three poles to come down, when the rain started. We received no notification that such work was to.be ! undertaken, or was in progress, from ’ those responsible, otherwise an interriiption which caused a great deal of inconvenience to a large number of consumers, as well as unnecessary expense, could have been avoided.. The total load for the month was 110 k.w.; the total load at last meeting 11,698 k.w., making a total of 11,SOS k.w. The report was adopted, on the motion of Messrs Kent and Smeaton. Mr Mulcare commented on the power interruption last Sunday, and moved that the District Public Works Engineer be asked to instruct his foreman to advise the Uower Board, in future, where work that may endanger power lines, is to be undertaken. Thus the line can be protected. as it could have been last Sunday, had the Board’s officers known the danger existed. Air Clayton said it was a serious matter that three poles should be brought down, and such inconvenience caused the residents and the Board, little forethought by the Public Works foreman in such cases would save money and inconvenience, besides eliminating danger. He seconded the motion, which was carried. Il was resolved, on the motion of Messrs Smeaton and Robinson, that the town members be empowered to deal with the tenders for the Rotomanu extension, which tenders close on June 30. It was agreed that there bo provision in the contract for a minimum of 16/- a day wages for general labourers.