ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLIES

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 27 September 1933, Page 5

ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLIES

CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES. REPORT TO N.Z. ASSEMBLY. (.By Telegraph—Press \ssoeuiticn.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 27. The president’,s report presented at the conference of delegates to the Electric- Power Boards and Supply Authorities’ Association of New Zealand today stated that since last conference the remits carried at the 1930 conference had been the subject of several deputations to the Minister of Public Works, but no legislation had so far been brought dowii to give effect to them. As, however, the Government had now put into operation for the most part the measures necessary to give effect to its economic policy, the executive would continue to press for legislation on the lines of the recommendations of the conference. With reference to Public Works Department’® charges for bulk supply, representations had been made on several occasions to the Minister on the question of removing the differential rate as between country and urban supply authorities. The department, however, contended that it was justified in making this difference, as the supply authorities themselves did not charge their large consumers at the same rate as the smaller ones. The question of an all-round reduction in charges was also submitted, but ■as against this the contention was that the far greater part of the department Is costs consisted of interest charges, in respect of which it obtained no relief. The executive at its last meeting resolved that while the time might be inopportune to press for any reduction, the position might he met by crediting boards 1 with the difference between £8 and £lO for the first 200 k.v.a. by way of an augmentation of sinking »r depreciation funds. - This '■evolution was submitted to the Minister of Public, Works for Ms consideration. -

A deputation from the executive waited upon the Prime Minister -at tsie end of last year upon the subject of the conversion to lower rates of interest of internal power board loans'. The deputation further urged the Government to consider whether an attempt should not be made to convert overseas loans,' especially in view of the presence in London of the then Minister of Finance. As regards internal loans 1 , legislation had -since been passed reducing rates of interest on existing securities and providing for conversion of the -same at lower rates of interest. The Prime Minister in his reply stated that no provision could then be made to convert London loans which ha<l not then matured, and referred to the embargo placed hv the British Treasury on further issues pending completion of the British war loan conversion. He was, however, prepared to bring forward legislation providing for + -he carrying forwad of accumulated sinking funds on the renewal of loans, thus saving the exchange that would otherwise he payable on the transmission of the sinking funds to London.’ Provisions to this effect were included in the Finance Act, 1932 (No. 2). There were now 48 power boards and supply authorities affiliated to the association.

LIGHTING OF HIGHWAYS

ENGINEERS’ SUGGESTION- -

WELLINGTON. Sept. 26

Contending at the conference of power hoard and -supply authorities engineers to-day that money spent for. such a purpose would constitute a fair claim on the highways fund for subsidy, Air H. F. Toogood suggested that the time had arrived for -the scientific lighting of the highways in New Zealand, particularly the illumination of certain parts of main roads at the approaches to cities. The suggestion followed the reading of a paper on street lighting by Air J R-. Templin, Christchurch, who asserted that in the matter of street lighting New Zealand was well behind the times. Tlie conference heartily endorsed the views expressed by Air Toogood. ’ I It. The election of the association’s offi-. cers for the year resulted : President, Mr S. G ; . AlcLeod (Thames Valley); - vice-presidents. Messrs L. G. Lancaster (consulting engineer) and L. B. Hutton (Southland); executive, Messrs J'. Dalmer (Wnitaki), E. Hitchcock (Christchurch), H. G. Kemp (Ashburton). T. R. Overton (South Taranaki), H. F. Toogood (consulting engineer, Wellington), IV. A Waters (AlanawatuOroua). MEETING OF SECRETARIES ELECTION! OF OFFICERS WELLINGTON, Sept. 26. The following officers were .‘’elected at the annual conference of the secretaries of the New Zealand -electricpower hoards to-day: President, Air IV. A. Day (Franklin) ; secretary, Air G. E. Fowler (IVaipuknrau) ; committee, Alessrs O. Campbell (Invercargill), G Pi-owne (Carterton).' IV. ATcArthur (Te Awamut-uL H. Wyllie. (Napier), K. Eglington (Manawatu), A. Owen (Christchurch).