POWER BOARDS CONFER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 7 August 1925, Page 5

POWER BOARDS CONFER.

INTERVIEW WITH PRIME MINISTER. (.BY XELEGBAm; PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 6. Various suggestions from th© Power Boards Association’s conference were submitted to the Prime Minister today by a deputation from the conference. It was asked that a special investing authority should be set up to deal with surplus loan moneys and renewal fund. Another matter was responsibility for installation, as it appeared the boards were being made the butt of the insurance companies. The registration of engineers was another question to be considered, and the association was also anxious to have the Act consolidated.

In reply, Mr Coates said the Consolidating Bill was nearly read;', and he would get it passed if possible, The investment of the renewal fund he would take up with the department and the Minister for Finance. He doubted whether effect could be given to the request for the registration of electrical engineers this session. An attempt to put a clause like that in the Consolidating Bill would perhaps raise a great deal of controversy. On the matter of the responsibilities of boards for installations, Mr Coates thought the people who carried out the reticulation should he responsible for seeing that there was a fair margin of safety.

Mr T. F. Martin, solicitor to the association, pointed out that at present insurance companies would get the benefit. They would pay, but under the law of subrogation would say to the consumer: “You are not indemnified : you have a claim against the nower board. We will use your name to sue the board.” Mr Coates: “I think we can meet that difficulty all right. We are not out to let the insurance companies get out of their responsibilities.” The matter in question would be investigated and the legal point determined.