FORTHCOMING POLL

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 20 August 1929, Page 5

FORTHCOMING POLL

POWER BOARD’S POLICY. OUTLINED AT OTAKEHO. ADDRESS BY MR. MURDOCH. In furtherance of its policy of giving the fullest possible information to the ratepayers concerning its loan proposals, the South Taranaki Rower Board held a public meeting at Otakeho last night, when an address was given by Air J. B. Murdoch, board chairman. Air S. H. Le Fleming was in the chair, and there was an attendance of about 30. Board members present beside Air Alurdoch were Aiessrs E. Long, J. AY. Snowdon and E. A. AY as her.

In amplifying liis remarks at the Auroa meeting, Air Alurdoch said that the rate payers in the inner area would not be responsible for the cost of reticulation of any part of the outer nevn. Residents in the latter portion of the district would have to raise their own money and stand their own liability. The amount allocated in the loan for reticulation would be all that the ratepayers of the inner area would be ever asked for.

The board had nothing against the company, which was a good organisation and was doing good business for itself, only the board said that it was such a good thing that it shoidd belong to the people. The company had been making up to 20 per cent profit, but he did not blame that body.

The hoard would endeavour to cater for all classes of load, in contradistinction to the company’s policy of concentrating on lighting. Some of the business would not be what- would be termed very remunerative, but as long as it paid its way the hoard would do what it considered its duty.

Opunake’s scheme had cost, as far as he had been able to gather, £98,000 for a 400 h.p. plant,and no availability rate had ever been struck there. South Taranaki proposed to spend £136.000 for a 1500 h.p. plant, and where was t!h© comparison? Speaking in regard to the raising of (he loan moneys. Mr Murdoch said that lie had no doubt that the board would not have to nay 51 per cent, the maximum that it was permitted by the Loans Board. He would like to see as much of the loan as possible taken up in the district, so as to keep the benefits here

Regarding roting qualifications, partnerships would he able to exercise onlv one vote, just as applied at local body elections. Women would he able to rote only if their names appeared on the roll in the capacity of ratepayers. Fuller information, ho intimated, would he published before the poll. THE BOARD’S POLICY.

Dealing with the board’s policy. Air Alurdoch set out the following points: (1) To secure the present sound and growing business for the people. Electricity is a public utility which should be administered for the people by their elected representatives. (2) To improve the existing_ system wherever improvements will give better service. (3) To develop and extend the existing business without compelling anyone to take the current who does not require it. (4) To give service to the people on sound business lines, and to ensure that every consumer is a satisfied consumer. (5) To reduce at- once the minimum monthly charges which ai’e in force' at the present time. (6) To reduce charges to consumers for current (both power and light) from time to time as the position warrants. (7) To make charges to consumers only on the basis of payment- for the amount of electricity actually used by each consumer. Flat rate charging is not a noroved. (8) To pay no engineer or anyone else on a percentage or on a. commission basis. (9) To spend no money on new headworks, hut to contract for a bulk supply 1o supplement what is generated at the power house. (10) To preserve intact the district allotted to the hoard by the Government. The object of this is to secure the important advantages of (a) load diversity, (b) lower average cost of electricity, and (c) lower average cost of administration. QUESTJONS ANSWERED.

Jn reply to a question during the c-ourse of his address, Mr Murdoch said that tire cost of arbitration had been borne by both sides. The board’s expenses had roughly been £7OOO, while the company’s had been reported on pretty good authority as being £1.0,000. It had to be remembered that the arbitration -had been long drawn out, and that the best experts o-f the Dominion—mien who eould not be obtained for nothing—had been engaged. Replying to another question, Mr Murdoch -said that uf an availability rate -did have- to bp struck the -board would not be able to discriminate, and any ratepayer who had his oavii plant lived within 10 chains of the board’s lines would have to pay just the same. But the question of an availability rate did not. enter into the picture at aIS,, for the board Avas taking -oA-er an estaibI (shod and growing business. Mr H. J. Bayes inquired A\ihA r the company had reticulated along Mangawhera Road instead of going through more thickly-populated areas.

Mr Murdo-oli replied that the- company had been limited because- it had not enough poAver ; one could not blame it for looking after the- interests of those who were already connected up. The hoard’s proposed change in the distribution A'olta-go would not affect eon sinners. The step up from 5000 to 11,000 volts would occ-ur between the genera line station and the distributing transformers, and the current when it reached the houses Avould be at the same voltage a.s at present, namely, 230. Mr J. Fi. Young: In the event of the loan not being carried, will the hoard function in Wn.inmate West ? That, said Mr Murdoch, was a- mattea- that, the hoard hoped it would not have to consider. Three years ago negotiations had been proceeding Aviith Opunake for a supply of power far Wan mate West, when it had been eovo-red that Opunake could not go into that territory. If the poll were turned down a loan would never lie carried. Every year that passed) from now on would see the price go up, the goodwill rising all tlie- time. Some of the experts had CA-cn put the price up- to £230,000. A reasonable rate of interest would be charged on advances to oonsaitmiers, sufficient to coA-er the hoard’s expenses. The .board aaouW not reserve the .sole right to AA-ii-e houses. The consumer would pay for the cost of installation, starting from one chain inaijd© his gate. He was not prepared to say whether the company AAoifld be able to get a

license to go into Wannate West if the lean were turned down. The wiring of houses in power board districts throughout till© Dominion varied front 22s Gd to 29» per point. The company's present rate was alxrat 32s 6d or 3os. Ratepayers on an mireiniinorativG portion of the load could not expect the board to put up its wires without making some contribution towards the costi. hut there wais only portion of one road in the county that, in his opinion, it would not pay ..to reticulate. “If the loan is not earned, Mr Murdoch told another quetsioner, “the ratepavers will' have to find £i ooo.’ There being no further questions, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Murdoch, Mr Eaves, the mover, saying that the address had been most instruxrtiv© fund lin’d set* out tho bom d s position diearly.