ELECTRIC POWER

Hawera Star, Volume L, 16 February 1931, Page 7

ELECTRIC POWER

OP ILNWRB BOARD.

WORK OP THE MONTH. There was a full attendance at the monthly meeting of the Opuuako Electric Power Board yesterday, mcinrbers prosent being Messrs Or. Goodwin (chairman), W. 0. Green, J. S. Tosland, A. .J. Brennan, W. L. P. Chambers, E. A. Collins, and C. O. Edmonds. The secretary (Mr J. N. Stephenson) reported as follows: Revenue for the month totalled fISfS, as compared with 12-36 17s last year at the same time. The biggest increases were for light and milking power. The increase for nine months Avas £6OS.

Tho secretary advocated that consumers be induced, if possible, to increase their consumption and that a certain amount of advertising and ‘'boosting’ 7 could bo carried out.

THE PROPOSED BO AN. Considerable discussion ensued on the subject of the £7OOO loan that had been rejected, the opinion of members being strongly against any move at the present towards again submitting the proposal to the ratepayers. Mr Tosland considered the time altogether inopportune. Mr Green said that the loan had been turned down and people were now in a much, worse position and he considered that, if the loan were re-submitted, “it would get a worse thrashing than before and ho himself would turn it down on principle. 7 ’ But, he said, in perhaps six to twelve months, when conditions he hoped would be improved, the question might be reopened. He drew attention to the fact that some large concerns had, in these difficult times, turned over to steam power which to-day was cheaper than electric power. It was no-good asking people to vote for the loan. Air Collins agreed that it was a bad time to go for the loan. He was, however, optimistic enough to believe that these *‘ rotten 77 times wero not going to continue for very long. Eor the present, however, it was out of tho question to consider going for tho loan and he was confident nine-tenths of the peoples would vote against it. He advised holding it over and when things righted htcmselves, to then consider the question. He added that he did nor. like to see consumers going for steam power.

In Teply to a question, the chairman said tho agreement with Now Plymouth for bulk supply had several years to run.

Air Green: “¥c shall get money much cheaper, I believe, in a year or two.’ 7 Tho subject then dropped.

THE PENAETY CEATJSE.

Referring to the question of tho late delivery of the new engine, which carried with it a penalty after a certain date, Air Tosland assumed they would enforce tho penalty clause.

Air Green considered that to do so would be doing an injustice. Ho said tho contractors had dono their level best to keep tho terms of tho contract and tho enforcement would be a hardship in these bad times.

Mr Brennan agreed that the firm had done everything possible to keep up to ,timo and could not govern shipping to a few days. Air Collins said he would not allege want of care, but tho stringent conditions and the “ pitfalls 7 7 wero pointed out to. the firm and they knew what they were up against.

Air Tosland endorsed Mr Collin's 7 Tequarks, and said that seeing tho board was paying for bulk power, they should not waive the wholo claim.

A motion proposed by Mr Green and seconded by Mr Brennan that tho penalty bo remitted was lost and an amendment by Air Edmonds and Mr Chambers that half the penalty bo remitted was carried, the voting in each case being four to two.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (£>. Eraser) reported that the units generated at the station for the month of January, 1931, were 129,500, showing an increase on the output for January, 1930, of 800 units. The maximum load carried was 390 k.w. The increase in the flow of the AVaiau maintained a good head of water in the lake throughout _ the month. The alternator arid switchgear in connection with the Diesel plant had come to hand and he hoped to have the engine complete and the plant in operation early in February. He added that the extension on the Cape Road had been completed and three miles of copper wire on Ruakere Road replaced by galvanised wire, the former Tiomg needed by P. and T. crossings. Trees were exit hack on the Pihama circuit, one four-wiro service on the Watino Road had been reconstructed and a transformer from Oeo taken for repairs to the depot. Service lines were run on Watino, Longfellow' and Kahni Roads and in Pnngarehu and Opnnake. New' connections were made for 25 lighting and nine heating points. The engineer said the new plant had been working since February 4 and would soon settle down to its best. A little difficulty, lie said, was experienced with the governors, and it was decided to notifv the contractors that if this did not improve in a few days they be notified to give them attention .

GENERAL. Letters had been sent hv the hoard t'» Hon. S. G. Smith and Mr C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., asking for help in a scheme to get a loan from the State Advances for building a house for the engineer. The former advised that lie was making representations to the Minister in charge of the department with a view to securing the loan. The secretary of the- Local Government Loans Board advised that sanction was granted to the hoard to raise a supplementary loan of £3OO. The rate will he £5 15s per cent for 10 Years, with a sinking fund of 8 per cent. The secretary was instructed to write getting particulars of earthquake risks rates of insurance. The resignation of Miss Silson as cashier was accepted with much regret. members agreeing that she had •Ivon very efficient service and that Kiev were losing a very excellent servant.—Tt, was resolved to advertise for a new cashier and the chairman and Messrs Edmonds and Collins were demited to make a selection. Accounts were passed and the board adjourued.