TIME SWITCHES

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 3239, 6 December 1930, Page 5

TIME SWITCHES

BOARD SUSPENDS RESOLUTION.

The question of time switch installation was again dealt with at yesterday's meeting of the Wairere Power Board.

The Board had previously decided on this step in view of the shortage of power, but the decision was met with some opposition. The engineer, in his report, stated that as the result of the blasting and clearing away 20 cubic yards of rock from the draught tube pit outlet at the falls there had been a marked increase in the capacity of the machine. The engineer explained that this would temporarily meet the shortage which it was intended to deal with per means of the installation of time switches on shed and domestic water heaters. After a discussion it was decided to suspend the previous resolution in regard to the installation of water heaters until its enforcement should become necessaiw when a shortage of power again arose. It was also decided that a demonstration shoud be given in the meantime.

The installation of house water heaters only will be proceeded with. Concerning the time-switches question, Mr. W. E. Cayley-Alexan-der wrote f urther to the board under date November 15th, stating that "after the meeting with you yesterday, the conveners present, Messrs. Coyle, Remnant, Kenny, Laurenson and myself, discussed the situation and came to the following conclusion —we are keenly resentful of the action of the chairman and directors in declining to meet us although notice of the meeting had been given in the Chi-onicle of the proposed new charges. "The board's present action is directly contrary to the arrangement entered into with the suppliers' meeting on October 10th. . .

The conveners have therefore decided that the action of the board is a distinct breach of faith and that the action is directly contrary to the arrangement entered into with the suppliers' meeting on October 10th. The conveners have therefore decided that the action of the board is a distinct breach of faith and that the present ruling price of butterfat does not admit of.the possibility of paying double price; and although willing to pay 'a small extra charge' as agreed upon, we feel that at the present time, even this should not be insisted upon. . . The writer, on behalf of conveners, would therefore be glad to know if the board is prepared to cancel the resolution for this season at any rate pending settlement by mutual agreement next year, otherwise another meeting of consumers will be held on the 4th to finalise matters held over at the last meeting on October 10th."

The Chairman: It is not correct, as Mr. Alexander states, that I said "it shall be done"—l would not insist if the engineer could suggest an alternative.

Mr. Smyth: Are we going to resign, then? (Laughter.) Mr. Boddy: Not' till they push me out.

BOARD'S ACTION RESENTED.

The writer of the above, together with Mr. Remnant, waited on the board as a deputation, stating that a meeting had been called on Thursday when the following resolution had been passed: "That this meeting resents the action of the board in passing a resolution on November 7th last heavily increasing the charges for continuous hot water service and requests the board to rescind that resolution and adhere to the promise made by the chairman and the engineer on October 10th to maintain the continuous hot water service at a slight extra charge only and that the installation of the change-over switches should be voluntary and not compulsory." * % PUBLIC MEETING SUGGESTED.

Mi*. Alexander added that a further suggestion had been made at the meeting that the chairman should call a public meeting at an early date, when all questions concerning the matter at issue could be fully discussed. After hearing Mr. Alexander, the chairman stated that he (the chairman) had been wrongly represented in the report of the meeting, (supplied by the Pio Pio correspondent and appearing in the Chronicle). He had no recollection of saying "that the installation would not be compulsory." In reply to a question, Mr. Alexander said the bone of contention was what the small extra charge should be. •

The Chairman: What would you call a small extra charge? Mr. Alexander: Is that a failquestion to ask me? Mr. Remnant: The chairman and the engineer made this promise, and they should be able to suggest what it should be able to suggest what it should be. To double it, as you now intend doing, is ridiculous. Mr. Nelson: What is the trouble about water not being hot after two hours of cutting out? Mr. Alexander: It is well known that water below boiling point will not destx-oy certain microbial substances in milk. Mr. Alexander went on to state that he had been in communication with the Te Awamutu Power Board and in reply to his enquiry for information had received the following:—The position here is that farmers within a reasonable distance of the transformer get satisfaction with a 600 watt element for 15 gallon boiler, but otherwise prefer a 750 watt, while farmers with 20-gallon boilers get satisfaction with a 1000 watt element. The engineer in reply to a question by Mr. Boddy, after Mr Alexander had retired, said that owing to the operation referred to above, there was no shortage of power at ,present, but the board should watch its margin and keep within safety. After a discussion, the above suspension was decided upon, the chairman remarking that this had not been decided upon on account of the opposition the boai'd had met with but entirely on the assurance given by the engineer. Mr. Wilson, in seconding the recision, suggested that in the meantime a demonstration with the time switches should be* given to consumers to show them that they were "barking up the wrong tree."