HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 November 1937, Page 8

HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

NOVEMBER MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Horowhenua Electric Power Board was held at Levin on Tuesday morning. There were present: Messrs G. A. Monk (chairman), T. G. Vincent, R. O. Hornhlow, D. Richards, A. E. Hyde, C. S. Keedwell, E. W. Vickerman and A. Seifert. Also Messrs P. J. Ramsay (secretary) and J. A. Smith (engineer). Leave of absence was granted to Mr. W. Barber. Donation Sought.

The Manakau Women’s Institute .wrote advising that its annual show was being held in Eebruary next, when it was intended to include classes for electrical cooking in the schedule for the first time. The board "was asked if it could assist with the prize money in this section.

On the motion of Mr. Richards, seconded by Mr. Hornblow, it was decided to make a grant of 10s 6d. Housing Construction.

A circular was read from the Elec trical Power Board’s and Supply Authorities’ Association conveying an intimation from the Minister of Housing to the effect that legislation would shortly be passed to enable power boards to obtain money at 3 per cent for housing construction.

The chairman said there was no explanation of what amount would be required for sinking fund or redemption for the repayment of a loan. The board’s work had outgrown the present staff and it would have to cope with that. He thought the board might have to erect another house in Levin in the near future and he suggested that the matter be left in his hands and those of the engineer and secretary to reply to. It was his opinion that the association desired some idea of the requirements of the Dominion in this direction.

In reply to a question by Mr. Vickerman, the chairman said that, personally, he did not favour building houses for all employees, but only for those who required to be in close proximity to a sub-station, in which case it was necessary to the undertaking. Similar sentiments were voiced by Messrs Vincent and Seifert, whereupon the chairman’s suggestion was adopted. liocal Body Amalgamation.

A memorandum from the Hon. W. E. Barnard dealt with the Local Government Amalgamation Schemes Bill and advised that if the board wished to give evidence in connection therewith it should give notification by November. 18th.

The chairman pointed out that the association executive was keeping in touch with the subject and would submit evidence as it became necessary. He did not consider that individual boards should give evidence as it might conflict with the views of the mouthpiece of the industry. The letter was then received. Use of Concrete Poles.

Mr. Hyde mentioned that Mr. W. A. Waters, engineer to the ManawatuOroua Power Board, was carrying out commercial experiments with a view to obtaining a satisfactory concrete power pole and he expressed the opinion that perhaps if Mr. Smith joined Mr. Waters some good might result. The chairman thanked Mr. Hyde for raising the subject. He said the perfect pole had not yet been found, but the way to accomplish that was by experiment. He thought enquiries should be made as to what was being done in Manawatu, and a report submitted to the board with the object of assisting in the work. Messrs Seifert, Hornblow and Vincent suported the suggestion and the chairman, Mr. Hyde and the engineer were delegated to obtain information and the probable cost. Screen Advertising.

The John Swinson Company forwarded quotations and suggestions in layout for advertising on the screen at Levin, Otaki, Poxton and Shannon theatres. The chairman said he was not opposed to screen advertising, but the board was making its business as economically sound as it was possible, and advertising was superfluous.

The communication was held over until the end of the present financial year. Extensions At Depot. The finance committee reported having considered the four tenders received for the proposed extension to the board ’s garage at the main depot, at Levin, and having accepted that of Messrs. Harvey and France at £407. On the motion of the chairman, .seconded by Mr. Keedwell, the report was received and it was decided to execute the contract. Union of Employers. The Electric Power Boards ’ Union of Employers forwarded a report of its annual meeting, which was received and laid on the table. The chairman said it had been decided to go on with the forming of the’association, which was likely to cost the board. £6 or £7 per annum for the first two or three years. Cooking Demonstrator.

The Electric Power Boards’ and Supply Authorities’ Association wrote ashing if the hoard would take the services of the cooking demonstrator again during 1938.

The chairman advised that the finance committee had discussed the question. While the recent demonstrations in the district were very successful, it had to he determined if a further engagement was reasonable and necessary. Business Avas coming as fast as it could he handled and he moved that the demonstrator he not engaged diiring 1938. It Avas seconded hy Mr. Yiekerman and carried, and it Avas also decided to express apprecia-i

tion of the demonstrator's work. General. On account of the incidence of Christmas holidays/the board decided to hold its next meeting on December 21st. Fifteen applications jwere received for the purchase of electrical fittings under the hire purchase system, and authority -was given for the completion of the agreements. Treasurer’s Report. The treasurer submitted a comparative statement of the revenue earned for the period ended October 31st, showing the following increase or decrease over that for last year:— £ Domestic supply —659 Commercial Supply -}- 1 Power -(-214 Water-heating -j-422 Street Lighting Total Less Discounts —lsl +£los

The net sales are thus £lO5 ahead of the same period last year. It is, how rever, rather an arresting fact that althoughl the unit sales for domestic purposes show an increase of 331,000 the cash returns are still behind by £659. It does appear, therefore, that, in the meantime at anyrate, bedrock has been reached in the matter of rate reductions for domestic purposes. It has, moreover, to be remembered that with the large increase in the range load much strengthening of overhead mains be-: comes necessary, and in some instances i additional outdoor sub-stations have to' be provided. This, of course, meansj additional capital expenditure on which i a return has to be found. With every! reduction in rates it becomes mcreas- j ingly difficult to make up the leeway,! and with rising costs on every hand, I the present margin between the return | received (particularly from a range in-j stallation) and the cost of providing ; the service, is so small, that very care- j ful consideration will be necessary be-j fore further revisions of the tariff are; made.

Sundry Debtors: —Current accounts, £2905; hire purchase accounts, £5384; total, £8289. The current accounts remain fairly constant at the figure shown. The hire purchase accounts have, however, taken a big jump, due to the increased number of installations going in. At the present time, many enquiries for ranges are coming to hand, which is, no doubt, due in some measure to the recent cooking demonstrations. During the month three consumers were' disconnected for non-payment of accounts, none of whom has been reconnected.

On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr. Hornblow, the report was received. Mr. Monk remarked that he had no hesitation in saying that the position would right itself, though it might take some time for the reason that the board’s costs had increased considerably. The business had grown to the point where beyond it the work was not economical. Engineer’s Monthly Review.

The engineer gave the following report covering the period from October 20th to November 17th:—. ,

During the period 81 new service lines have been run, 13 existing services converted to three phase, and two existing services extended. Seventy-four poles have been fitted and erected, and 852 chains of wire run on E.H.T. and L.T. lines. One outdoor sub-station has been built. The E.H.T. and L.T. lines to Waitarere Beach township have been completed, also the transfer of the L.T. lines to the new poles on. the Eoxton road end of the Waitarere road. Short extensions to L.T. have been made at Tokomaru and Kawatiri, and extra wires on existing poles have been run at Eoxton Borough, Otaki Beach, Kawatiri, Eaumati, and Kimberley Eoad. Heavier cables have been run at Eaumati, Moutoa, Eangiuru Beach and Makerua, The half-yearly earth tests have been completed, together with the renewal of transformer fuses, and lino patrols have been carried out over the Levin-Paekakariki circuit, Levin Eoxton and Shannon, and Gladstone and beach circuits.

Installations: During the period 40 applications have been received from new consumers, and 39 for extensions to existing installations, included in which are 11 ranges, 7 water-heaters, 6 milking, 2 separator, 10 industrial, and 2 pumping motors, also for a temper - ary installation of 3 motors segregating 5 h.p. at the Manakau overbridge site. Seventy-four new consumers and 30 .extensions have been connected, included in which are 18 ranges, 15 waterheaters, 3 shearing, 8 milking, 3 separator, 1 industrial and 3 pumping motors. The total increase to the connected load is 277.72 K.W. Power was switched on to the Waitarere Beach township on Saturday afternoon, October 23rd, and made available to all completed installations. There are now 38 houses connected at the- township, and 10 houses and 6 milking sheds on the beach road extension.

The report was received, the chairman commenting that from the number of installations it appeared that the outside staff had been very busy indeed.