METERS ON FARMS.

Matamata Record, Volume XIII, Issue 1112, 7 April 1930, Page 3

METERS ON FARMS.

MORE COMPLAINTS. Engineer Explains Position. The Thames Valley Power Board has received many complaints from farmers since the installation of meters was commenced last year. Particular exception has been taken to the charge of £4 per horse-power in addition to charges for actual power consumed. The board has compiled a circular containing notes on the operation of milking plants. The following letters received at Tuesday’s meeting are typical of many written by farmers to whom the board’s new circular should be helpful:— “ Would you kindly explain what is meant by your annual charge of £4 per h.p.? I have to pay for the : power I am using and on top of that there is an annual charge of £B.” “ I wish to make a protest against your method of charging a flat rate of £4 perhhorse-porerw r er on motors, as I consider that charge most unjust.” In reply to one letter the board’s engineer had stated that the horsepower charge was quite a common method, not only in New Zealand, but all over the world. It discouraged a consumer from using the board’s system purely as a stand-by to a petrol engine. In the case of engine breakdown he would use the motor for a few milkings a year and the number of units used would be negligible, but the board would be liable for the cost of his power for the whole of any quarter in. which the consumer used that motor. The charges by meter, continued the engineer’s letter, were designed to give a reduction of 8 per cent to the large consumers, to 9 per cent for the smaller consumers, compared with the old flat rate. The points on the two systems "Where this reduction occurred were 2201 b of butter-fat per cow per annum, and 25 units per cow per annum. The board tpok 2201 b of butter-fat to be the average production. If the production were greater, then the consumer was proportionately better-off. The 25 units per cow had been found to be the average for all classes and conditions of' sheds. A good shed would use less than 25 units per cow, some going as low as 18 units per The board had records of several sheds with 40 cows doing less than 24 units per cow. The board’s new scale of charges was designed to give a reduction over the old butter-fat system of charges, and if a consumer did not obtain

that reduction it would be due either to mechanical imperfection or a but-ter-fat return of under 2201 b per cow. Too high a speed of vacuum pump for the number of bails operated is the usual cause of excessive use of power. In one case a reduction of 40 per cent was obtained by running the vacuum pump at a suitable speed. Too heavy, too light, or crossed belts were other causes, but most points were obvious if a little thought was given to the case.