GREY POWER BOARD

Grey River Argus, 19 May 1938, Page 2

GREY POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Grey Electric Power Board was held last evening, when there were present: Messrs J. Mulcare (chairman), J. Smeaton, L. B. Hutchison, J. B. Kent. J. Unwin, A. H. McKane, W. Clayton, W. H. Parlitt, and W. Fisher.

The chairman and Mr McKane were authorised to sign any documents for the transfer of the Power House site. The chairman welcomed Messrs Fisher and Hutchison, the two new members of the board, and hoped that their associations would be profitable and friendly to the board and residents of the Power Board area.

Mr Fisher, in reply, said that he would endeavour to tne best of his ability to further the interests of the board and district in general. Mr Hutchison said that he would do his best to further the interests as a citizen, both as far as the board was concerned and the general public. The secretary's report was adopted, and accounts totalling £3,169 16s were passed for payment. The Acting-Under-Secretary, Public Works Department, wrote approving oi settlement of Messrs Cory Wright and Salmon’s claim of £448 7s Id extra to their contract, and authorised payment It was decided to take no action regarding a request from the Director of the South Island Travel Association soliciting the board’s help in publishing a “West Coast Guide,” and the book “Discovery,” referring to South Island scenic attractions. The chairman and Mr Unwin were appointed to represent the board on the Centennial Committee, and an account for £l.l 5s as contribution to scholarship was passed. .Mr McKane was appointed to represent the board in connection with the drafting of a Dominion award and alterations of rules, and to proceed to Wellington in connection with the matter. <

The secretary and engineer wene requested to bring down a report on the question of the sale of ranges. The chairman referred to the matter of high cost of installations being a bar to the proper progress in ) ange sales. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Engineer (Mr S. Trotter) reported for the period April 27, 1938, to May 16, 1938, as follows: Power Supply.—The following are the annual figures for year 'ending March 31, 1938, with last year’s figures shown in parentheses: Units sold, power 10,935,563 (7,233,410); domestic lighting 484,070 (407,266); domestic cooking, heating, etc. 1,448,613 (1,249,199); commercial light 325,025 (279,426); commercial heat 202,046 (174.809); water heating 351,317 (232,200); street lighting 166.342 (157,022); community lighting 95,247 (87,272); unmetered, testing, and board’s Use 28.150 (39,970); total 14,036,859 (9,860,574). Units generated 12,203,480 (10 months), (12,250,090); units purchased 1,145,112 ( —); units purchased under P.W.D. contract 2,501,822 ( —); totals 15,839,414 (12,250,090). Total revenue from sale energy only £51,037 9s 8d (£46.427 Is 8d). The load on the system is steadily growing for all ournoses, the increase in power load predominating owing to the nature of the district, a large percentage of the output being used for mining purposes (gold mining and collieries). Reticulation,-—The outside staff have been engaged in general maintenance, connecting new consumers. The work of connecting toe Rolomanu line on the Arnold Road into the P.W.T). system is proceeding, and some dismantling of old lines where deviations have been .made is being carried out. The sub-

station at Blaketown is under way. lOn Saturday night, May 14, an interruption on the town and country supply south of Greymouth, lasting for 15 minutes, occurred due to a broken line wire. We are arranging to put two Induction Voltage Regulators into commission on No. 3 Feeder to boott our 11 kV line until the Public Works 66 kV line is extended to Hukarere. These are at present on their way from Christchurch. Consumers.—Since last meeting 29 new applications for supply have been received, making the total to date 4260. Seventeen new consumers have been connected, and this brings the total number of consumers up to 4265. Extensions and alterations to 58 existing installations have been carried out. Six electric ranges and nine radios have been connected. The connected load for the period is: Light: Previous 1631.185 k.w., present 9.300 k.w.; total 1610.485 k.w. Heat and Iron: Previous 3457.430 k.w., present 23.520 k.w.; total 3480.950 k.w. Water heating: Picvious 337.300 k.w., present 5.000 k.w.; total 342.300 k.w. Power: Previous 8898.500 h.p., present 10 000 h.p.; total 8900.500 h.p. Cooking: Previous 2820.700 k.w., present 41.500 k.w.; total 2862.200 k.w. Load at last meeting: 14,920 k.w. Load for month 89 k.w. Grand total: 15,009 k.w.

Annual Meeting MR SMEATON NEW CHAIRMAN. The annual meeting of the board was then held, Mr J. Mulcare presiding. On the motion of Messrs Kent and McKane, the chairman’s honorarium was fixed at £125, the same as last year. Before vacating the chair, the chairman thanked board members for courtesy and consideration shown to him. It had been a real pleasure to him to occupy the chair during the past year—quite a contrast to the previous term. He knew that members would extend to the incoming chairman the same courtesy and consideration.

The secretary, Mr J. B. Denford) then called nominations for chairman for the ensuing year. Mr Clayton nominated Mr Smeaton, saying that he had been a member of the board for twelve years, and although he had had one term as chairman, there were also other members who had occupied the position on two occasions. He felt that the chairmanship would be in very good hands in the coming year, if Mr Smeaton was elected.

Mr Mulcare, in seconding Mr Smeaton’s nomination said that two old members of the board, Mr Clayton and himself, had had two terms, and he felt that for the coming year Mr Smeaton would be the right man for the position. Mr Unwin nominated Mr McKane, stating that whilst agreeing with the remarks of previous speakers, he though that Mr McKane had quite a lot of experience—20 years on local bodies—and he would capably fill the position; also that Mr Smeaton had had the position before.

Mr Hutchison seconded the nomination of Mr McKane. There were no further nominations, and the voting resulted In the election of Mr Smeaton by six votes to three.

The voting was as follows: Fop Mr Smeaton—Messrs Kent, Mui care, Fisher, Parfitt, Clayton, and Smeaton. For Mr McKane —Messrs McKane, Unwin and Hutchison. Mr Smeaton was then declared elected for the ensuing year. The newly elected chairman, in returning thanks. assured members that he would do his best In the Interests of the board. He regretted that there was the nomination of Mr McKane. He realised that Mr McKane was entitled to a turn as well as anyone else, and had he known there was t.

be any argument or any election, he would have stood down.

Mr McKane: Oh, John, don’t talk like that! Mr Smeaton: Yes, I say that. I am getting old, and this will be my last, term. I am not seeking re-election as chairman of the Hospital Board. Mr McKane in congratulating Mr Smeaton on his election, said that he wanted it to be understood that there was no ill-feeling, even though it had been readied up and arranged, but he would say that he had no hand in anything like that. He could assure the. chairman of his fullest co-opera-tion. He was very happy and very easy about the whole thing.

The chairman: I think we understand each other, and I am not the least afraid but that you will do your best.

The whole boarfl was elected as a general committee.