POWER CHARGES REDUCED.

Matamata Record, Volume XVI, Issue 1447, 3 August 1933, Page 4

POWER CHARGES REDUCED.

BY £4837 A YEAR.

Cheaper Milking-motor Scale.

Lighting Rate Cut by id.

A reduction in certain power charges as from September 1 was agreed to by the Thames Valley Power Board at Tuesday’s meeting. The following recommendations by the finance committee were adopted without much comment: —

That lighting charges be reduced. from 7]d nett to 7d niett, an annual reduction of £1525.

That charges for milking and farm motors be reduced from the first 40 units at 5d to the first 30 units per horse-power at sd, an annual reduction of £3312.

That the hiring fete for electric ranges be reduced from 2s a week to Is 9d.

The effect of the reduction in milking charges is that farmers will get power at 3d per unit after the first 30 units instead of after the first 40 units.

Chairman Explains Reductions.

The effect of the reductions was explained by the chairman (Mr. J. Price). The reduction in the number of units to be charged at 5d from 40 to 30 would mean that the farmer with a small herd would get a reduction in power costs. It had been contended that under the existing scale of charges the small farmer was paying more for Ins power than the larger consumer. The object of the committee was eventually to wipe out the extra 2d per unit. If it was possible befoie long to reduce the charge down to 5d "for only the first 20 units this would be a big reduction paving the way for a uniform rate per unit later on when the revenue improved enough to permit a further reduction. Members’ Comments. Mr. J. M. Allen (Morrinsville): Was the question of raising the 3d rate or lowering the 5d rate to a uniform rate per unit considered by the committee ?

The chairman: This reduction to 30 units at 5d has the same effect. Mr. F. E. Flatt (Paeroa) added that the idea of the committee was eventually to wipe the charge of 5d out.

Mr. W. R. Lowry (Piako County): I am sure that consumers all over the district will be pleased with this reduction. I am glad the chairman has stated that it is the board’s intention to reduce the charges to a straight-out charge as soon as possible.

Mr. J. W. Anderson (Matamata County): This way of reducing the milking power charges seems to be the ‘simplest way of making a reduction. Not Due to Deputation. Mr. J. Pohlen (Matamata County) said he took it that the reductions were the result of the representations of the large and representative deputation that waited on the board at its July meeting. The chairman: It was not due to pressure by the deputation. At the board’s annual meeting in May we agreed that in view of the board’d financial position we could make no reduction at that time, but would leave the matter open to be reconsidered at any time.

Mr. H. M. Corbett (Piako County): I don’t think it was due to the deputation that we made these reductions, because we have had them under consideration for some time. It should be clearly understood that the matter of reduction can be reconsidered at any time, and the business now going through gives us strong hopes of a further reduction. Mr. F. E. Flatt (Paeroa) said it would be wrong to let it go forth that there would be a reduction at any definite time. The board should announce that it would endeavour to reduce the 5d charge as soon as possible. Message to Disputation Leader. At Mr. Pohlen’s suggestion it was decided to advise Mr. J. E. Leeson, as leader of the recent deputation, that the board has reduced charges owing to the improvement in the board’s finances during the last quarter and in accordance with the resolution passed by the board in May.

Mr. Flatt added that it would be wrong for it to go out that whenever a deputation waited on the board, the board would get panicky and reduce charges.