ROTOMANU POWER

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 May 1944, Page 3

ROTOMANU POWER

[TO THE EDITOR.] c; r From what I have heard recently there appears to be some misunderstanding regarding the conditions under which electric power ic qnnolied to Rotomanu consumers. The facts are these: Before the Loans Board would allow the Power Board to di" a single pole-hole of the Rotomanu line U ie y to be satisfied ihat the expenditure on the line would be justified by the revenue from it. and they therefore required the Power Board to obtain from the residents of the area to be served promises, or guarantees, to use a certain amount of power per year. The guarantee to be obtained must total a ’certain percentage of the cost of the line, and this percentage is set out in the Electrical Supply Re1925. In the esse of the Rotomanu line it was barely enough to enable the erection of the line to be undertaken, and the Board had to supplement the guarantees to bring the annual return to the required amount. Almost ah hm Power Boards in New Zealand have had to fullil the same requirement at some time or other, mid the method is always the same. A consumer is charged for his electricity al, say, quarterly intervals. H he uses and pays for as much as, or more than,, he has guaranteed to use and pay lor, that is the end of his liability. If, however, he has guaranteed to pay £3 per quarter, and has used and paid for electricity valued at £2 only, then he must pay a further £ 1 to bring the revenue to the Board up to £3. In other words, the electricity used and paid foi is set off against the guarantee. It. is not. in addition to the guarantee. This explanation should show how impossible- of fulfilment is the hope alleged lo have been expressed by Mr John Ryan at his recent Ngahere meeting, that guarantees should be dispensed with. —Yours, etc., J. MULCARE, Chairman. BLAKETOWN BRIDGES. [TO TUB EDITOR.] Sir, —I notice the Borough Council, or the Harbour Board repairing the traffic bridge io Blaketown. May I ask if they intend to do anything with the foot bridge near the" wharf? II not may I suggest that the rails etc. be painted white. With Winter now on us it would be a good guidance for anybody crossing at night. Whenever it is raining heavily it is hard to see where one is walking, more so when the wharf fights are out. Trusting that this suggestion will meet with approval. Yours CITIZEN.