HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3527, 21 August 1926, Page 3

HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD

AUGUST MEETING. The Horowhenua Power Boai’d met in Levin on Tuesday, Mr. G. A. Monk presiding. Also present were Messrs C. Kilsby, A. Ross, W. E. Barber, T. G. Vincent, A. J. Petherick, W. S. Gunning, and the engineer (Mr. J. A. Smith). REDUCTION IN RATES. The. Medical Superintendent 'of the Otaki Sanatorium wrote in relation to the charge for electricity to the institution, asking that the Board again consider the granting of a reduction to the 'sanatorium. The matter has been held over pending the engineer ascertaining what the load is likely to be^ The secretary said he presumed that if the Public Works Department gave concession to the Boaid, the latter would be in a position to hand it on. A similar request came from the Manawatu and West Coast Dairy Companies’ Association, which stated that the dairy companies affiliated with this Association were of the unanimous opinion that the charges for electric power were excessive, and had asked the Association to apply for a reduction. It hoped the. Horowhenua Power Board could see its way to accede to this request. • The latter aplication has been referred to the Dairy Factories Coiqmittee, which has the matter in hand. TREASURER’S REPORT. The Treasurer (Mr. Goldsmith) reported as follows: — Review of accounts for payment. —The total amount presented for (confirmation is £1163 9s lOd. This amount includes in round figures for wages, £307 for salaries, £204 for installations, £ll2 freight on poles, the balance being made up of payment for freight and sundries. The pay-sheet for tho day totals £3045 2s 2d, the main item being the provision for the payment of two debentures on loans which fall due on the 31st instant. The amount is £2035 5s Bd. There are quite a number of accounts this month, but only three of them run into three figures which embrace payments for ranges, meters, insulators and installations. Receipts for the month. —Since the last meeting attention has been given to collect some of the outstanding accounts for installations. There has beep a fair response considering the season of, the year. On the part of most consumers there seems to be a desire to meet all reasonable demands, but with many, money is not too plentiful at the present time. The following statement shows the receipts since last meeting, also the total receipts from the first of April to the 14th August, 1926. It will be noticed that the electricity returns are substan•tia'l, but it must he remembered that most of the street lighting and the quarterly accounts from large consumers have been paid during the month.

Receipts from Ist April to 14th August, 192 G and meter rent, £12,804 13s 4d; penalties, £4l 16s lOd; interest op installation accounts £276 16s 2d; ranges, water-heaters and motors, £1165 2s lid; installations and service lines, £3494 15s sd; cottage rents and sundries £122 4s 2d; total £17,995 8s lOd. So far the revenue appears to be Avell abreast of the estimates for the portion 1 of the year which is under yeview. We have entered into our fifth month of the financial year. During the month one consumer was cut off for failing to pay the electricity account. Loan expenditure. —'From the figures hereinbefore recorded it will be seen that the receipts to date total in round figures £IB,OOO. The expenditure (including to-day’s payments) total nearly £25,000. .Of this sum between £B,OOO. and £9,000 has been charged to Loan Account. It will thus be seen that the loan Expenditure for the year is likely to exceed the estimates (£12,400} by a considerable sum. This position has no doubt been largely brought about by the steady demands for extensions and services, entailing more transformers and general equipment than was anticipated prior to 31st March last. The policy hitherto adopted of waiting to ascertain actual requirements before raising the small amount of loan money which may ultimately be wanted, is a good one and should be continued for awhile. The report was adopted.