GREY POWER BOARD

Grey River Argus, 20 March 1942, Page 2

GREY POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING HELD.

The monthly meeting of the Grey Electric Power Board was held on Wednesday evening. Mr J'. B. Kent (chairman) presided, there being also present: Messrs J. Mulcare, P. Blanchfield jnr., J. Smeaton, J. Unwin, A. H. McKane, W. Clayton. W. E. Pring, W. Fisher, W. S. McClymont (secretary) and Sinclair’ Trotter (engineer). The secretary of the Electric Power Board and S'.A. Association wrote concerning control of manpower in the electrical industry, in which it was stated the number of employees had reached a minimuni. After a brief discussion the Chairmap said that the Government had already dealt with the matter and it was decided to take no action The War Effort Committee forwarded an invitation to the Board to send delegates to the meeting in the Town Hall next Monday. The Chairman and Mr. Clayton were appointed to attend. ' The engineer reported as follows: The line staff have been engaged on the construction of 11,000 volt line Maimai to Burke’s Creek. A small amount of general maintenance on overhead lines has been carried out. A transformer substation was erected on the Marsden High Tension line to give supply to the Rutherglen Sawmill which is now operating on electric power. The construction of the Waipuna Dredge line has been completed. Thirteen consumers’ services were erected. One small transformer at Atarau was changed owing to a unit being damaged by lightning. Since last meeting 11 new applications for supply have been rereceived. making the totdl to date 5076. 13 new consumers have been connected and this brings the total number of consumers up to 5075. Extensions and alterations to 29 existing installations have been carried out. 8 electric ranges have been connected. The connected load for the period was: Light, 4.910 k.w.; Heat and 1., 13.000 k.w.; Water Heating, 4.400 k.w.; Power, 600.0 k.w.; Cooking, 57.350 k.w.; load for the month, 680 k.w.; total 26,435 k.w.

Loads have been slightly in excess of the corresponding period of last year. One or two short interruptions on Power Board feeders in outlying districts have occurred due to opossums and in one case damage by lightning. The secretary’s report stated that the Power Fund Account balance stood at £9,174 14s Bd, and the balance after accounts to be paid had been passed would be £6.130 6s 6d. The revenue from electricity sales for February totalled £7,834. In February 1941 the revenue was £7.792. Financial assistance range sales now total £7,522 14s 4d, of which £1,916 0s 6d is outstanding. Only two consumers owe for more than March 1 reading. One was a good account, and a telegram had been sent to the other as a reminder.

Accounts totalling £4,561 9s 2d were passed for payment.