THE WAITOMO POWER BOARD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XX, Issue 2067, 15 January 1925, Page 5

THE WAITOMO POWER BOARD.

POSITION OUTLINED. BEFORE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. At the Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday evening, Messrs W. A. Lee and .T. Kiernan, representing the Waitomo Power Board, addressed the members on the. policy of the Board, and some very interesting information was reported 'flo those present as to the prospects of tlfe scheme for the development of hydro-electricity in the district.

Mr Lee sta.ted that the policy of tho Board would be economy and efficiency. The scheme was a large one, and at ono time the speaker had been rather pessimistic in regard to the Board's future. After careful consideration and weighing the matter from all poiiltis of view, he became quite optimistic, and felt that the Waitomo Board was starting under most favourable conditions. Taking the district in which they had itfo work, they had the best portions of Otorobanga and Waitomo Counties, coupled with the towns of Otorobanga and To Kuiti. While Otorohanga tcAvn was untouched in Te Kuiti they had a revenue-prodhcing district from the start. It had to bo remembered that the progress of the town depended upon the prosperity of the country districts around, and it would ultimately be 'to the benefit of Te Kuiti if it gave the country districts any benefits it possibly could, and electricity on the farm was going to be a greati convenience, and meant progress. Then again, if there was any proposaton to start industries in the town and district, there n*ast be power to carry them i*i. Electricity for lighting, heating and power was in its infancy in this country, and if a district wanted' to keep pace with others it must have elecdricdty. The benefits of combining power districts had been shown in Auckland, where the Board had been enabled to reduce the charges on two occasions.

Mr Leo continued itliat ht> had boon amaz.-d at the response made for electricity when going round the district for guarantees. Altogether 118 applications had been made, and out of these there were 80 farms, each of which would bring in a revenue of £35 to £4O each. These applications came from the Otorobanga County rural districts.

Referring to the policy of the Board in erecting lines, Mr Lee said these had been carefully considered and it had been decided to reticulate in the meantime where there was a guarantee of 20 per cent, of revenue on the capital expenditure. This meant that they were working on safe lines. The Board would not require the full 20 per cent., but it was safer to have a margin to work on for a start.

The Waitomo Caves would also be another important customer for the Board, and the sum of £4OO would be a very conservative estimate of the yearly revenue from this source. Tn Otorohanga they had the shingle industry, the dairy factory, and the street lighting to rely on, while in the Waitomo district there were lime and stone crushing plants. The loan proposals were Tor £70,000. Of this amount £55,000 would be spent at once on lines on which the Board had the required 20 pet cent guarantee. There were districts in which the full 20 per cent, was not certain, but the Board felt that in a very short time there would be no difficulty in obtaining the* full guarantee, and for this reason felt it advisable to have authority to raise £15,000 when the time was opportune for extensions.

Mr Lee said I hat he wanted to emphasise the fad that under the Power Board Act il was necessary to strike a rate of l T 4 d in the pound, but it did not follow that a demand would be made for that rate. The speaker felt sure, from the prospects of the Board, that there would be no necessity to collect the rate, which had to bo struck as security for the necessary money. In answer to Mr Broadfoot, Mr Lee stated that so far as the people of Te Kuiti were concerned they would not receive any reduction on the rates at present paid, except in the case of power, where a slight reduction would be made. The Board wanted to be on safe lines in regard to its finances,' but he felt sure that in time a reduction would be made. This all depended on the use people made of electricity. The more that was used, the cheaper would be the supply. In conclusion, Mr Lee asked for the co-operation and help of the Chamber in carrying the loan proposals. They had as good a proposition us any Power Board in the Dominion, provided it was carried out on sound business lines. There was only one danger of the loan proposals being turned down, and that was the apathy of the people in a matter which meant a big step towards progress. Mr Kiernan said there seemed to be a misconception amongst the people as to how the change would affect them. Many were under I he the impression that it would entail a heavy expense. This was not the case. The householder would be put to no expense at all, so far as lighting and cooking was concerned. The change over frdni direct current to alternating current would mean new switchboards and meters, but the

Board would pay for this. What would be the position of motor owners had yet to be decided by the Board, for new motors would have to be installed. However, the situation was not a serious one, as the d.c. motors could be easily disposed of, while the a.c. motors would be cheaper. The Board had many advantages to offer the people in the new so hem* l . It would mean a steadier power. It the shopkeepers wished to they ecu;!!! light up their shops in the evenings, and be turned off automatically. It seemed quite probable that as soon as the Board had the reticulation done, there would be ji reduction in charges, but, as stated by Mr Lee, it wanted to feel its feet before making any promises in this direction.

In answer to Mr Broadfjpot, Mr Kiernan stated that it was proposed to charge 3d per unit for cooking, but a reduction of this charge would depend entirely on the extent to which the people used the electricity for cooking. The more that was used, the cheaper would be the charge.

Mr Lee said that the Board would have to carefully consider the charges for heating and cooking, for it wanted to encourage the use of electricity in every way.

Continuing, Mr Kiernan stated that the Town Council had made a satisfactory deal with the Board in selling the present plant, for it was receiving the same price as what it had cost 12 years ago. The sum of £3500 had been spend on the plan), during the interim, but this had all been paid out oT profit. Mr Caley asked if Ihe Board intended to go in for trading.

Mr Kiernan said it was intended to undertake trading but there would nut be any unfair competition, as the Board would buy at wholesale and sell at retail rates. Mr Hitchcock asked if the Board would take over the d.c. motors at present in use in the town and replace them with a.c. motors.

.• Mr Lee said that this opened up a big question. It had to be remembered that many of the farmers had oil engines, and if they took up electricity these engines would be thrown on their hands. The Board could scarcely discriminate between the two. However, this matter would come up for discussion at a future meeting.

Mr Holah stated that the standard current was now a.c, and what would become of the d.c. motors at present in use? Mr Gray said there was a demand in Australia, where there was comparatively little water power, for this class of motor.

Mr Walsh wanted to know, in the event of the loan proposals being carried, when the new power would be available.

Mr Lee replied that the Government had promised the supply in May next. There would be the time necessary for raising the loan money, and the erecting of the transmission line from Hora Hora.

In reply to a question, Mr Kiernan stated that the Board would make installations on terms or deferred payments. Under the Act the Board had power to do this for a term not exceeding five years. In thanking Messrs Lee and Kiernan for the information they had imparted to the meeting, the chairman said that New Zealand was passing through n progressive period, and no district could afford to be left behind in a step like the one under discussion. In any movement which was going to help the country districts, let all the townspeople cooperate in every way possible. If electricity was introduced into this district, it would be the means of encouraging industries and helping towards closer settlement in the country. It was a big undertaking but it meant progress, and for this reason it was to be hoped that the people would not show rm apathetic feeling on the day of the poll, but would make a study of the matter for which they were to vote. After Messrs Lee and Kiernan i :u! retired, a discussion took place -,.>■ various phases of the Power Board's policy; and on the motion of Mr Craig, seconded by Mr Holah, the following resolution was carried unanimously: "That this Chamber support the policy of the Power Board as outlined that evening, and that an appeal be made to the ratepayers to attend the public meetings to be held in connection with the Board's policy, so that they may go to the poll with a full knowledge of what they are voting for."