FACTS AND FIGURES FOR “SPOTLIGHT” AND CO.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 4 September 1929, Page 6

FACTS AND FIGURES FOR “SPOTLIGHT” AND CO.

(To the Editor.)

Si«r, —-As Mr Ta-yJor hasn’t stated whether ho has shares in the Electric Ligh.t Company or any other indirect interest, one can only come to the conclusion that he was on the- “unemployed list” and took on this job to keep the wolf from the door. Air Taylor. “Spotlight.” and Mr Liaanlb- are now trying to confuse the ratepayers at the last- minute with questions, answers, figures, ete., which seem to he only half truths. I mentioned in my first letter that if we ratepayers didn’t wake up we would ho mn by dictators. Now, sir, the company, having no opposition, aro in the position of a dictator, as anyone at present using power or light from them should' happen to have any complaint are practically told if they don’t like, it- they needn’t use it, or in other words “we’ll cut you off ”. Again,

sir we are told that electric heaters aie no good and to install chip heaters. Just fancy some of Hawera’s progressive men telling the farmers to use chip beaters. I wonder if Mr Taylor or Mr Lamb would like to he gathering the chips, especially in the spring time. It strikes me one would hear some bleating. But, sir, if wo don’t plant trees w here are we to get the chips from, as the old block won’t last for ever-’ Perhaps we could borrow a few sacks of cones t-o keep us going in the interval. The Manawatu-Oroua Power Board ate only allowing heaters that pass their test to be installed down there. If Mr Lamb will write Mr W. Waters, engineer, Palmerston North, he will confirm my statement. The “Mercer Heater,’’ made in Christchurch, comes up to that test and is very economical on power. It has a 20-gailon capacity, costs £9 2s 6cl complete with element and lin. full bore tap, yet only costs the consumer Ss per month. It will heat water up to 210 degrees, and nine hours after the current is turned off the temperature only drops to 196 degrees and tlie water is still warm after current lias been turned off for 70 hours. Now, sir, where is the argument® in favour qf chip heaters? One ! can see is from the company’s point of view .that it doesn’t pay. Another an if better rca.sion perhaps is, they haven’t got sufficient power in the pre-i sent voltage system to. keep heaters and Lights going. As for the power be- ' mg used during tiio peak, that is mereIv a big bogey. How many iu town use the light in the morning’s between the hours of 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. ? That is when the farmers are uismg it for milking, heaters, etc., or between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., except in the winter time, when the farmers are usually only milking a cow for household use and not using any power for milking or heating? Mr Lamb, giving information to tlie Government engineer at New Plymouth said they (the company) were at their .peak and would have to buy power when the Government power was available. Now he says he has 700 h.p. for eight months of the year and 500 h.p. for the remaining four months to reticulate Waimate West. Mr Taylor at Aur-oa told us M i Lamb had -00 h.p. to reticulate Waimate West available. Personally. I don’t think, sir, if they gave their present consumers a first-class service, tout they would have any surplus. Its a case of current, event® casting their shadows beforehand. Now, sir, “Spotlight” seems to- be good at figures-. 1 noticed he pulled the board’s chairman utp about them and also says “Hawera and surrounding districts are being asked to carry Waimate 'West and unprofitable extensions on its back.” Now, “Spotlight,” take Hawera Borough, 1153 ratepayers, Manaia Town District 226, Normanlby Town District 132, a total of 1511. The rateable capital value is £1,816,01S or nearly £1202 Cadi ratepayer. Now take Waimate West 467 ratepayers rateable capital value of £2,095,245, or equal to £4486 12® each ratepayer. Now sir, who is going to do tlie carrying on their hack supposing a rate is ever collected? No, sir, the present attitude of the various writers against the board seems to spring from them having financial interests in the company. Now we come to Mr Lamb’s letter of August 30th. Ip 1924 capital used was £77,943 2s 4d, 1929, £109,666 8s 8d; in the five years under review that i® an average increase of £6344 13s 3d annually. 1 wonder if that is accumulated profits on a reserve fund to reticulate Waimate West; if tlie former, then it should he shown as year 1929 capital used £109,666 8s Bd, nett profits £11.371 plus £5478 11® Sd, which is the difference between capital used in 1928-29, making a total of £17,149 11s Sd. As Mr Lamb doesn’t state its borrowed money we are left guessing, and if we don’t vote for the Power Board we will be guessing all the rest of our lives.

In conclusion, 1 would like to state I’ve no quarrel with Mr Taylor, Mr Lamb, Mr Dixon or any other leading light, and my only object, in coming out is to put. before the ratepayers the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. “He. toils in honest poverty, lie milks Ibis cows and a’ that, he ehints his tree® and tills the soil, but lie’s still a main for a’ that.” Thanking you, sir, for your valuable , i be.—I aan, etc..

' J. CALDWELL Au.ixm. September 3, 1929.