ELECTRIC POWER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 211, 19 August 1933, Page 4

ELECTRIC POWER

THE, CENTRAL H.B. BOARD BUSINESS OF THE MONTH (Special Representative.) The monthly meeting of the Central Hawke’s Bay Electric Power Board was held at Waipukurau yesterday, the chairman (Mr A. C. Russell) presiding over Messrs C. Ryan, J. A. Kerr, F. J Witherow, C. Pattison, R. H. Fraser, A. W. S. Longley, A. C. Holms, and W. H. Rathbone. The secretary manager (Mr G. E. Fowler) and the engineer (Mr J. K. Lee) were also in attendance. The secretary of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board wrote asking support of a resolution urging the Government to reduce audit fees. —Support was accorded.

Messrs F. J. Addis, E. James and D. W. Priest wrote asking what guarantee the board would require to instal electricity at their residences. —Messrs Witherow and Holms proposed guarantees which were decided upon. Considerable discussion ensued on the subject of conversion of tho board’s loan under the recent Act, and it was decided to wait till after the Power Boards’ conference next month before taking action. The New Zealand Power Boards Association advised that the annual conference is to bo hold in Wellington on September 27 and 28 and asked that remits bo forwarded by August 31.—The opinion was expressed that tho question of dealing with the control of radio interference which the board had brought before the executive of the association in the form of a special report drafted by the secretarymanager should be the subject of a remit, the chairman and Mr Witherow supporting this course. Mr Holms stated that he had previously recorded his dissatisfaction that tho executive of tho association had referred tho matter to the Engineers’ Association, which seemed disposed to leave the matter in abeyance. Mr Holms then suggested the following remit: That as outlined in the proposals drafted by the secretary-manager the Power Boards Association be recommended to promote the setting up in provincially grouped areas of an authoritative committee representative of tho Public Works and P. & T. Departments, Broadcasting Board, and the Power Boards, for the purpose of dealing with tho radio interference problem. — The matter was left to tho secretary to finalise. The secretary-manager reported on the’subject of lonn redemption, as applied to the £13,500 loan with the Pub-

lie Trust Office. The report was adopted and it was decided that representations bo made as recommended in connection with repaying a loan of £lO,OOO.

A lengthy discussion took placo on a special report by the secretary-manager concerning the development of a range load in the board’s area by way of profitably increasing the consumption of current. It was decided that the matter be held over for consideration in February or March next. SECRETARY’S REPORT. The secretary-manager, Mr. G. E. Fowler, in his report stated:—Since the last meeting of the board, the meters in the Waipukurau borough have been read. For the two months ending July 31 the revenue earned in this portion of the board’s area was £1134 2/- as against £ll7l 0/11 for the same period in 1932, which is a decline of £36 18/11. In view of the drop in energy charges, the position for this period is satisfactory. Late readings of consumers in July, cards for which were received after last report, together with special readings, reduced the drop in revenue to £362 16/5, as against a somewhat larger deficit as reported in July. The principal drop in revenue occurred, lighting £lO7, power £135, with all other headings showing a decrease excepting heating, which just held its own. As instructed by the board, I proceeded to Wellington to deal with the matter of (1) loan redemption, (2) loan conversion. These matters are being separately reported upon. Whilst in Wellington, arrangements were made, as authorised at last meeting, for the purchase of the required 50 k.v.a. transformer at £4 4/- less than the price quoted. In reference to the plans asked for by the Public Works Department in regard to new lines opened up, through the courtesy of the chief electrical engineer, the departmental map was sent through to us for the purpose of making the necessary additions, to be then returned to Wellington. This will save us expense, and we are indebted to the department for its action. I took the opportunity, whilst in Wellington, of going into the question of wireless trouble. It will be remembered that in March last I submitted a report suggesting that the time was ripe for the various authorities interested to take concerted action to deal with a trouble which, at the present moment, is spurned by all. The board forwarded a copy of the report to the Power Board Executive for its consideration. I am assured that such a proposal as was suggested by us is worthy of full consideration, and I would respectfully suggest that a remit go in from us, dealing with the question on the lines of the March report. Fault return for the month of July, 1933. — Waipukurau borough (96 lamps): During the month of July, street lights replaced in the Waipukurau borough totalled 17, all of which were bracket lights, being 20.23 per cent, of the total bracket lights installed. This is an average of 17.70 per cent., as compared with 20.83 per cent, in June, and 20.83 per cent, in May. Five community lights were replaced, and one ordinary fault attended to.

W’aipawa borough (54 lamps): Lamps replaced totalled 10, of which 5 were bracket, being 19.23 per cent, of the total bracket lights installed, and 5 were suspension, being 17.85 per cent, of the total suspension lights installed. This is an average of 18.51 per cent, as compared with 14.81 per cent, in June, and 18.51 per cent, in May. Five community lights were replaced. Country area (32 lights): During the quarter, 7 lights were replaced, of which 6 were bracket, being 23.07 per cent, of tho total bracket lights installed, and one was suspension, being 16.66 per cent, of the total suspension lights installed. This is an average of 21.87 per cent., as comfiared with 18.75 per cent, in June, and 9.37 per cent, in May. Miles travelled totalled 62. Ordinary faults: During the month, 14 ordinary faults were attended to, the miles travelled totalling 392. Tho sum of £3 was charged for attention to four of the faults.