GREY POWER BOARD

Grey River Argus, 21 May 1942, Page 2

GREY POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING HELD. The Grey Electric Power Board met last evening. Mr. J. B. Kent, presided, and there were also present Messrs W. Fisher, W. E. Bring, A. Clayton, J. Unwin, J. Smeaton, P. Blanchlield junr., J. Mulcare. W. S. McClymont (secretary), and S. Trorter (engineer'. - The Secretary of .the New Zealand Power Boards Association wrote stating that it was not necessary to obtain the consent of the Electrical Controller before granting the cost of living bonus of five per cent, to all employees, whether they were under awards or not. It- was reported that the Finance Committee had decided to pay this increase to all employees, with a maximum of 5s a week for males, 2s 6d a week for females, and Is 6d a week for juniors. This decision followed consideration of a clause in the Secretary’s report giving different interpretations of the Court’s order as follows: —

(1) Some boards give a 5s per week increase to ail in receipt of £5 or more, and a 5 per cent, increase to those in receipt of less than £5 per week. This course may be followed without reference ,to the Electricity Controller. (2) Some give a 5s per week increase to all workers covered by awards who are in receipt of £5 per week or more, and a 5 per cent, increase to others covered by awards but earning less than £5. (3) Some grant the increase to those workers whose present wage does not exceed the prescribed award rate, plus 9th August, 1940 Court order of 5 per cent., plus the March 31st, 1942, Court order, of 5 per cent. The secretary’s report also stated:—Following on the instructions given, by the Man Power Committee, I canvassed ways and means of replacing R. J. McTaggart, who was drawn in the last ballot for military service, and for whom an appeal was lodged. There are two courses open to the board. (1)' To make do with two readers, reading the meters less frequently. This would have the advantage of releasing a man for war purposes and of saving paper and petrol both scarce and valuable items, as against the disadvantage to the consumer of large accounts at longer intervals, and to the board of a probable increase in bad debts, which would be offset. (2) To otain through the Social Security Department, a man fit enough for meter reading, but unfit for military service and unemployed in a non essential industry. It was decided that two monthly readings should be introduced. Referring to the 1942 extension loan of £lO,OOO the secretary’s report stated: —One result of the board’s having .to build the lines to Burke’s Creek and Waipuna before the authority to borrow was received is thAt the local Government Loans Board cannot, authorise the borrowing of as much mone v as was spent on these lines. This means that the board must obtain legislation validating the raising of a loan for work already completed, after which, so Mr. Davis of the Treasury told me on the ’phone it will be merely a matter of form for the Loans Board to consider and grant the authority to borrow. (A letter to this effect will be tabled with the inward correspondence at the ordinary meeting). In the meantime the Board is overdrawn at the bank, but should shortly be in credit again. , , . _. . The letter was received and filed fob reference. The report stated that the debit balance, which was £lBBl 5s Bd, be £3528 0s 7d after accounts totalling £3,123 3s lid had been passed forpayment, accounts paid _ since last meeting, £1,479 9s. April' electricity sales were £6,050 17s 9d, compared with £5,101 16s 7d for April 1941. The scheme initiated in September 1938 to stimulate range sales had resulted in total sales of £7,990 18s 4d, of Which £1,952 15s! lid is still owing to the board. Accounts for large power are in good shape. Of the 13 consumers only 2 owe more that the Ist May reading, and both are considered good risks. The accounts as stated wore pas- i sed for payment. I The engineer’s report stated: —i The outside staff have been engaged I

on general maintenance of lines, a considerable amount of work being required op the Barrytown route, Ten Mile Creek, and on Rewanui Line, all due to the numerous slips and -wash outs caused by the recent heavy rains. Some defective poles have been renewed on the Camerons route. The remainder of the<ime was occupied with consumers’ service lines, testing of plant, re-inspection work and general transformer maintenance and repair.. Since last meeting 10 new applications for supply have been received, making the total to date 5103. Eleven new consumers have been connected, and this brings the total number of consumers up to 5102. Extensions and alterations to 28 existing installations have been carried out. Nine electric ranges have been connected. The connected load for the month was (totals in parenthesis): Light, 2.06 (2118.585); Heat 1., 13.5 (4865.72); Water heating 4.4 (631.26); Power. 190.0 (14,333.5); Cooking, 53.950 (5336.75). The entering of a new 'financial year has been accompanied I)y a considerable increase in load due to new dredges starting and the usual increase which accompanies the, colder weather and shorter hours of daylight. We are now distributing well over 1000 K.W. at the northern end of the board’s district, the bulk of which is used in the new areas in Inangahua County joined at various times to the board’s original district.