UNANIMOUS SUPPORT

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 30 August 1929, Page 5

UNANIMOUS SUPPORT

FOR POWER BOARD PROPOSALS ME, MURDOCH AT TOKAROA. CORDIAL ENDORSEMENT GIVEN. A unanimous vote of confidence in the board’s proposals was passed by ratepayers at Tokaora last night after hearing an address by Air J. B. Alurdocli, chairman of the South Taranaki Power Board. Approximately 20 were present, and Air F. Alii Is was elected to the chair. Board members present beside Air Murdoch, were Alessrs li. Long, J. W. Snowden, E. A. Washer, and E. A. Pacey. Air T. E. Overton, the board’s consulting engineer, was also in attendance. In calling on All - Alurdocli to speak, the chairman said he hoped that if any opponents of the .board’s scheme were present, what would be put before them by Air Alurdocli would change their views.

After explaining the steps that had led -up to the formation of t-he board, Air Aliurdoch said that a wise thing had been done in reserving this district for itself. There was not a part of New Zealand outside of the cities that was so congested as this district, and this was a favourable condition for the distribution of electrical power. Electricity was a national utility and its use was becoming more general, and in time to come it would be adapted to many uses at present not thought of. With wise foresight the Government had gone in for an extensive hydroelectric scheme for fhe whole of the North Island, and the three big generating stations —Alangahao, AVaikaremoana and Arapuni—would be ample to supply all the energy needed for many years. The possibility of Arapuni being washed away had no bearing on the board’s proposals, and the matter was (brought in only for the purpose of throwing dust in the ©yes of the people. One might as well introduce the possibility- of Alount Egmont blowing up.

AN INCREASING MARKET. The Hawera, County Electric light Company had given good service for over b 5 vnu’s. but. the'time had now

come for the ratepayers to exercise their right to purchase the undertaking. Some there were who said that the board could not run the concern as well as the company, but the speaker disputed that. The Legislative of 1902 had wisely provided) that the ratepayers should have the right to purchase the undertaking after 25 years and, further, that, if a price could not be agreed bn, it should be fixed by arbitration. That stage had now been passed through, and one could not deny that arbitration was the fairest way of getting at the true value. Tf the loan were authorised. there

was no possibility of a rate being collected. Comparisons with harbour boards were not applicable; the board would step into a concern that was producing an amount of revenue equal to £25,000 per annum. Electricity was not a commodity that the consumption of was decreasing, and in this district, according to the company’s figures, its sale was going ahead by leaps and bounds. From last year to this there had been an increase in the amount supplied by the company pf 26 per cent, and with the board’s policy of catering for all classes of load, further big increases could (be counted on. Water heaters, alone, would substantially increase the demand.. Li the Tariki area there were now over 500 water heaters, and this in the short time they had been going. For (between £lO and £ll one could have a heater installed in one’s millring shed that would give 12 gallons of boiling water, day or night,

the cost being 3d a day. The Government’s hydro-electric lines were being put through to New Plymouth, and as soon as they reached Hawera there would be more power available than could be used. The company’s lighting load formed two-thirds of its total load, whereas with other supply authorities heating and power formed a much bigger proportion. The company could not be blamed, for it was looking after its own interests, but the board would look after the interests of the ratepayers. Opunake had spent £98,000 on a 400 h.p. scheme, while South Taranaki proposed to spend £136,500 on a 1500 h.p; proposition. Opunake had never collected a rate, and ho could not conceive that one would be collected here. Of the £51,000 balance of the loan £6900 was proposed to 'be spent on bettering the efficiency of th© system by raising the distribution voltage from 5500 to 11,000. This was not a big task and was mainly concerned with the changing of the transformers* while some of the high tension lines might need to be improved to give efficiency at the higher voltage. For the reticulation of Wannate West £22,000 was provided, and if the ratepayers disagreed with the hoard’s policy, they periodically had the opportunity to turn the board out.

The proposition was a .sound on© and the best that he had ever seen.. The board was empowered to borrow at a rate not exceeding 5J per cent., but lie thought that there would! he no trouble in raising the money cheaper; the New Plymouth Harbour Board and the Dunedin municipal authorities had recently raised big sums at of and Si per cent, respectively.

EVERY FACILITY FOR THE COUNTRY.

He did not know where the consumption of electricity throughout the Dominion would end. At the end of 1928 there were. 21,513 water heaters iin New Zealand, an increase for the yea.r of 7353. The company at the same date had 28 in its district. The valine of water heaters on the farm was ; infinitesimal, but boding water could not be obtained by the use of chip heaters, which the company recommended. Electric heaters were the only ones of use to the fanner. The board was out to give the country every facility in regard to electricity—.facilities equal to those accorded to towndwellers. Life in the country could be made much mor© attractive with the aid of electricity, as well more prosperous, and that would reflect back to the betterment of the towns. This would be the only time that- the proposal would bg put before the ratepayers. The proposition was almost too good to he true, and the . ratepayers should not hesitate, to snap it up. Anyone who voted! against the proposal, eonc’nided Mr Murdoch, was not voting for the progress; of the. district, and was not taking info consideration the requirements of the people, but was simply looking at the position from a personal point of view. Messrs Long and Washer briefly spoke, supporting their chairman.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED. Replying to a. question, Mr Murdoch said that the company would have to pay income tux out of the £II,OOO profit made in 1928-29. The board flyail not feme into the question of taking over the company’s staff, Mr Murdoch told Mr S. Thrush,

but as far as lie could see they were capable officers. Such matters added Air Long, had been left in abeyance untJi after the poll was carried. Mr H. J. Finlay: If the poll is turned down will we be rated fo>r the board’s expenses? “Yes,” replied Air Alurdocli. “There i« still a little over £(>000 to be met.”

Asked by Air H. B. Taylor whether till© board would go out of existence if the poll wer© not carried. Air Alurdocli said that if fib© people in the pnreticulated areas gave the board authority, it could raise a loan and supply them. If that were not done, then the board might be 'looked upon by those in authority as an inoperative bodv and' its territory’ divided between the no ■> ..ring boards. The board would not guarantee* boiling or scalding water with heaters, but lie knew many that were giving excellent service.

“We would do our best to get you a customer,” said Mr Murdoch, laughingly, in reply to a question whether the board would take over chip heaters in piart payment for dieetrie heaters. “I have looked forward for many years to the time when I can run my farm and house by electricity,” said Mr Mills, “but it has not yet come and

won’t as long as the undertaking is in j the handy of the company.” If the concern were not taken over now the ' price would jump up. owing to th© increasing goodwill, and the ratepayers would then never be able to economically buy it. The only chance of a rate being collected was fi the loan were turned down, and then it would 1 be a certainty, for the balance of _ this expenses had to be paid. The increased distribution voltage would give la much, better sendee, creating a reserve of power and making the diminution of I)rightness of electric light bulb® ois extra load went on less. As the consumption of current in the district increased, its cost would become leasi.. for tli© company’s present cost of generation was .Old per unit, whereas the extra current that would have to be obtained from the Government would cost only .sd. Hb was satisfied that the ratepayers could find' men in the district of greater business _ capacity than the present company directorate, and if a manager were needed the board would have no difficulty in finding many capable men to. fill the bill. “It will be a calamity if the loan is turned down,” concluded Mr Mills.

Mr Thrush then moved that the meeting favour the board taking over the undertaking and going on with its scheme. This was seconded by Mr Findlay 'and carried unanimously. Votes of thanks were then accorded Mr Murdoch and the chairman. Appreoiatorv reference to 611© assistance given bv Messrs Murdoch and Washer in the building of th© ihiaUl was voiced bv Mr Thrush before the meeting concluded.