NEW DEPOTS?

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 48, Issue 2818, 5 October 1938, Page 5

NEW DEPOTS?

POWER BOARD MOVE PAEROA AND MATAMATA THAMES COAST SUPPLY NO START UNTIL FEBRUARY The Thames Valley Electric Power Board met at Te Aroha yesterday. Present: Messrs J. Price, chairman; H. M. Corbett, F. E. Flatt, T. A. Barrett, J. H. Pohlen, J. McCormick, J. F. Mayn, P. R. Hawke, H. R. Bush, W. C. Kennedy, H. L. Boughton, the manager, Mr R. Sprague, and the chief engineer, Mr N. G. McLeod.

The manager of the State Advances

Corporation notified that the corporation was now prepared to offer the board the sum of £15,000 at 38% interest over a term of 10 years repayable on a basis of a 15 or 20-year amortisation table with the balance outstanding at the end of the tenth year to become payable in one sum. The board’s solicitors notified that a further decision had been obtained in the matter of W. H. Pearce v. the board from Mr W. R. McKean, S.M. The workers’ union, however, had given notice of appeal to the Supreme Court and a further hearing would be given later. Mr Hawke asked if the action of the union was for the purpose of getting an interpretation of the Act. The manager: They have already had it.

Mr Hawke maintained that in such cases it should be necessary for the Magistrate to .give a full interpretation to the point under discussion and thereby settle the point. Mr Kennedy observed that in cases of this nature neither side could claim costs. —• The manager said that already the action of the board in defending had cost £2OO and was likely to cost £3OO before it was through. The chairman considered that as the case was under appeal the less discussion on the subject the better. The subject was then dropped. Board’s Buildings The long-awaited report on the "state of. the board’s building and the dangerous condition, it was discovered to be in when the recent renovations were under construction was not yet available for the board. A letter from Mr E.”E. Gillman, architect of Hamilton stated briefly that a complete report on the building was not yet available as he was still awaiting information from overseas and elsewhere.

The manager read a further letter- which had been written to Mr W. Marshall of Paeroa, seeking information on the subject which could be tabled for the board’s' consideration.

Thames Coast Supply

The written guarantee signed by six guarantors for the Thames coast supply was tabled by the manager who stated that everything was now in order to proceed.

The engineer stated that owing to the rush of work and the fact that other lines were signed up and the whole of the constructional staff was engaged on services elsewhere, he did not anticipate being able to make a start before February. Mr Kennedy asked for a specific statement as to why it was not possible to carry out the work at once.

The chairman: I told the ward some time ago that we were six months be-

-jgind with our work and it is the same to-day. Our trouble is the shortage of labour and finance. The agreement for reticulation was agreed to. Mr Hawke mentioned the urgent necessity for modernising the Matamata depot which he said he had discussed with the chairman. Mr Flatt immediately claimed that the Paeroa depot needed attention. Mr Corbett: We want to know what it is proposed to spend before you go ahead with it. The chairman advised the board to hold the matter over until next month -when a comprehensive report would -be available for consideration. This course was agreed to/