COMMISSION SITS

Grey River Argus, 13 December 1943, Page 2

COMMISSION SITS

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY TO KUMARA JUNCTION

A commission to consider a petition from the Grey Electric Power Board that a certain territory in the Kumara J'unction-Taramakau district be included in the board’s district sat at Greymouth on Friday. The territory is at present in the 'Westland Power Board’s district. The commission consisted of Messrs A. E. Davenport, Resident Electrical Engineer of the Public Works Department (chairman), W. G. Hadley (District Valuer, Christchurch) and J. W. Greenslade (commercial agent, Greymouth). M. Sinclair Trotter (Engineer) and W. S. McClymont (Secretary) represented .the Grey Electric Power Board, for whom Mr J. W. Harman appeared. Westland Power Ltd. was represented by Mr J'. S. Langford (Managing Engineer) and Mr M. B. James appeared for the company and for the Westland Power Board. The commission will renort to the Governor-General by January 8. Mr Hannan said that the area concerned had a capital value of £7265, with 29 ratepayers and a population of 80. As a result of a petition by residents of Kumara Junction and Tarakamau requesitng a power supply, the Grey Power Board had in September, 1940, passed a resolution to include the area and had invited the Westland Board to discuss the proposal. The Westland Board had replied that a conference would not be of advantage unless an agreement were reached with Westland Power, Ltd. The directors of the company subsequently promised to discuss the matter, but since the end of 1940 nothing further had been heard from the company and the Grey Board’s petition had been presented. Power w.as required by Westland Transport Ltd., who could not be supplied by Westland Power Ltd. In August, 1942, the Electricity Controller directed that the Grey Board’s line be extended to Kumara Junction. It was contended that it was more convenient and economical for the Grey Board to supply the area; about only two miles of line had been required, while three and threequarter miles would be reouired by the Westland Board, which had never actually functioned as a supply authority, passing over matters to Westland Power, Ltd. Mr. Trotter said that in October, 1938, the Public Works Department advised that a request had been received to supply power to the Taramakau Hotel and the Westland Board did not object when the Grey Board gave the supply. The cost was £968 for one mile 67 chains of line. For eleven months the revenue had been £l2O and the estimate for the year was £l3O. Westland Transport, Ltd., had guaranteed £lOO a year for five years for power for a crane at Kumara Junction. < To Mr. James: There were six consumers in the area, though the original petition to the Public Works Department had been from 14 ratepayers. The Grev Board had no knowledge of the petition being in circulation. There were three or four houses which would be wired when the Emergency Regulations permitted.

To Mr. Hannan: So that' the line could act as a feeder from a proposed new sub-station in the area, it had been built of heavy copper wire, otherwise it could have been about £2OO cheaper. i Mr. James said that the position appeared to have been brought about bv war conditions, and It wa s contended that it was wrong to attempt to legalise the status quo so presented. Westland Power, Ltd. claimed that it could give the required service. It had not been approached by the settlers or by Westland Transport Ltd., to supply power. Mr. Langford said that no direct application had been received by the Westland Board or Company to supply power to the Taramakau Hotel. The logical way of the hotel receiving power wa« from the Grey Board. Mr. J. M. Eadie, of Westland Transport, Ltd., had expressed a desire to obtajn power for the crane at Kumara Junction from the Grey Board. A request was made to Westland Power, Ltd., to suplv a generator set, but when it proved ineffective no request was made to supnlv power. If guarantees were available, the Westland Board could almost as easily supply the area concerned. This would have been an economic proposition. Fifteen per cent, of the capital cost would have been the guarantee asked for. By losing revenue- from new developments in the area'it was

now possible that his Company would be at a financial disadvantage To Mr. Hannan: His Company had 38 miles of high-tension transmission lines.' Power was extended to Kumara township, about seven year? ago. The Company had not objected to the Grey Board supplying Westland Transport Ltd., because not sufficient revenue was involved, but there was still available material to construct 16 miles of line. The Board's material was on the site before the Westland Board knew the extension was in progress. The transfer of the teiMtory concerned to the Grey Board was opposed on principle, because it was not to be known where the practice might cease. War conditions should not be taken advantage of for such a purpose. It was admitted, however, that the move could not be opposed on economic grounds.