ELECTRIC POWER

Hawera Star, Volume L, 21 February 1931, Page 4

ELECTRIC POWER

TARANAKI BOARD. A-STEADY MONTH. The monthly meeting of the. Tara-nnl-i Electric Power Board was heLd at Elthain yesterday, when members present were Messrs H- G. Carman (Chair), Ni .H. Moss, C. E. Mctinmness, 11. J. Knuckey, H. J. Marchaim, C. Foreman, M. J. Gernhoefer, and J. Dobson. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (B. H. Goldsmith) reported as follows: The number of consumers at January 31, 1931, was 2106. Units generated during the month totalled 878,900. The largest daily outjput was 32,400 units on January 6, and the maximum demand of 2160 k.w. occurred • on January 19. New Plymouth drew a small supply dumng peak periods on 21 days of the month. Installations connected during the month totalled 28, compared with 44 for January. 1930.' A comparison of gross revenue for 1929 and 1930 showed that the latter 1 was greater by £1540 —£45,947 to £44 404. The accountant’s report showed that loan adjustments are required for replacements on Hastings and Hunter Roads. GENERAL. Mr McGuinness referred to the question of a cut in wages', seeing that the Government had given a lead and said it was up to the local bodies to follow suit. Mr Moss said all were aware of the position and he looked to the future with some apprehension. On his motion it was agreed that the _ Finance Committee he asked' to go into the whole position and report to the next meeting. MANGAOTEA TUNNEL. The question of employing further labour at the Mangaotea tunnel was considered and it was resolved to see wh at could be done. Mr Moss said they should endeavour to push forward to a finish as early as possible and he considered they could get men under No. 5 scheme. Mr Knuckey said he also should like to see the work completed and considered they could very well employ two more men. The engineer said this was doubtful, but he would do his best in this direction.

On the motion of Mr Moss it was recommended that the Works Committee he asked to expedite the work and to finish if possible by November. STRATFORD EXTENSION.

A deputation headed l by Mr E. Marfell attended and asked consideration of their position in the extension area behind' Stratford. Mr Marfell and other speakers' stressed the fact that they had agreed to come in on the understanding that the area would be liable for its own charges only and that they would not have voted for the loan had they thought an availability rate was to be imposed. They felt, he said, they had been misled. The chairman said' that the deputation were right in their contentions, but he told them the rate wag for construction in tjheir own area and for reticulation only and not for the head works. The reason for the rate, he said, was that the sales of current were not sufficient to meet ordinary charges and he gave details of the financial results during the past two years., These, he sard, would show that the present rate was justified. He concluded 'by making a definite statement that, in his opinion, no rate should he struck this year, in view of the difficult economic position. Mr Moss said the statements of the t deputation were quite satisfactory but he remarked that the figures given by the chairman hardly put the position fairly because there was considerable revenue accruing from the roads bordering the area, brought about by the reticulation in that area.

On his motion it was agreed that a fresh statement should he prepared showing the total amounts of revenue from all sources and costs of all work in the area and that the matter he then again reviewed. He said that the board was out to satisfy all' these, using current. WATER STOR AGE. The engineer drew attention to a statement by the New Plymouth Borough engineer giving, he said, an entirely wrong impression of the Power Boai'd’s water supply. He said that the position was eminently satisfactory.

In reply to Mr Knuckey, the engineer stated' that the hoard had a storage capacity of 700 acre-feet in comparison with the New Plymouth Council’s area of 28Q acre-feet, the board’s supply, therefore, being about three times that of Mangamahoe. The chairman added that the board had at all times endeavoured l to sell outside so as to lighten the load to consumers and that there was never any suggestion to restrict the supply of cover to New Plymouth. The engineer added, in the course of a. report, that it was never intended to curtail the normal requirements of the New Plymouth system, because the level of the board’s lake was eighteen inches higher than it was at this time last year. He was still giving the maximum possible assistance to New Plymouth.