WAIRERE POWER BOARD

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 4883, 13 August 1936, Page 5

WAIRERE POWER BOARD

NEW OFFICERS APPOINTED.

SATISFACTORY REVENUE FIGURES.

The monthly meeting of the Wairere Power Board was held at Pio Pio yesterday, Mr. R. Boddy presiding over Messrs. R. W. Neal, R. W. Moore, C. Roberts, G. W. Crocombe, J. Johnston, the newly-elected member from the Awakino district, Mr. D. R. Sage, the secretary, Mr. Aston, and the newly appointed engineerforeman, Mr. J. G. Green. Mr. Boddy welcomed Mr. Sage to the Board, apd the new member replied, assuring those present that he would do the best he could in the interests of the Board.

It was reported that the engineerforeman, Mr. Green, had commenced his duties on July 24, and his assistant, Mr. D. Nelson, on August 1.

Ohura and Tangitu Districts.

A discussion on the desirability of obtaining assistance from the Government for the reticulation of sparsely settled areas followed upon Mr. Sage's query as to the effect of increase in the cost of building the Awakino-Mokau extension. This prompted members to discuss tentatively the possibility of Government assistance making possible the reticulation of the Ohura County and Tangitu district from a breaking-down station on the Ohura-Stratford l,ine. Mr. Johnston said that taking in this district might be wiser than amalgamation with Waitomo. The secretary said that such a proposition would mean a standby plant “within coo-ee” of Wairere’s generating station.

Request from Aria.

The secretary of the Aria Settlers’ Association wrote asking for copies of the report on the Board’s loan proposals for members’ consideration.

The chairman reported that, in conformity with the decision at last meeting, he had instructed the secretary to reply that publication of this report had been withheld until it had been dealt with by the Loans Board; after that it would be published in the press.

Awards for P.B. Employees.

The secretary reported that a further meeting of provincial Boards to discuss the. new award proposals was held in Auckland, and was attended together with the chairman. The electrical workers’ application for an award was considered, and at yesterday’s meeting the secretary outlined in detail the manner in which the counter-proposals had been dealt with at a subsequent Arbitration Court sitting. Some things had been conceded', but the most important objections had been “referred to the Court.”

Mr. Boddy mentioned that an endeavour was being made to have supply authorities covered under a separate award owing to the different conditions prevailing in the trade and in the general supply of electricity.

Revenue Buoyant.

“The revenue is very buoyant—l received quite a pleasant surprise when I made the figures up,” commented the secretary, referring to the receipts for the current year to date. Despite the loss of Henderson’s mill, the total revenue for the financial year was only £l3 less than last year’s total for the same period. Meter readings at the end of June totalled £912, compared with £893 last year.

This had resulted from steady load building ini the past 12 months. An indication of increase in trading department work was that installations and sales for three months ended June 30 amounted to £SOO as against £l9O for the corresponding period of last year.

Loan Proposals.

The agenda and other data for the Power Boards’ Conference to open the 26th inst. was considered. This included the Wairere remit that the Government be urged to assist in the reticulation of sparsely populated areas by granting a subsidy on the initial cost. As the chairman and secretary, who have been appointed to attend the conference, will also interview Treasury officials while in Wellington on the loan proposals, they were empowered to call in the Board’s consulting engineer if any matter, such as the rise in cost of building the Awakino-Mokau line, made them consider this advisable.

The chairman reported that all the necessary data had been forwardfed to Wellington, and the proposals were at present being investigated by technical advisers. It was not yet possible to say when they would be dealt with by the Loans Board. The engineer-foreman reported that since taking over the linesmen had been engaged in tree cutting of a major nature, and it was expected that a considerable reduction in line faults will result when all lines are clear of trees. No opposition was being experienced from property owners in this direction.