HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3795, 22 May 1928, Page 3

HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD

CHAIRMAN'S REVIEW OF OPERATIONS.

At the annual meeting of the Horowhenua Power Board held last week at Levin, Mr. G. A. Monk was unanimously re-elected chairman. FORMATION OF POW|ER DISTRICT. Mr. Monk resumed the chair amidst applause, and thanked the members for having returned him again. In reviewing the working of the Board, he stated that he had been connected with the movement to form a power district, and with the Board from its inception. The agitation was started about 1918lb, and the Board came into being in February, 1922, the district comprising the Horowheuua county, part of the Hutt county, and part of the Manawatu county, with the boroughs in the areas included. The district had some advantages, and also a good many disadvantages, as it was a long,< narrow district, necessitating considerably more transport than a compact district. The Board was duly constituted, and its first duty was the appointment of an executive officer.

It was arranged at that time that the Horowhenua County Council should do the work, and it was carried on by Mr. Goldsmith, who was then County Clerk. Some two or three years later, when most of the reticulation was done and the Board was supplying electricity, it became necessary to appoint a permanent officer; and out of 40 or 50 applicants, Mr. Goldsmith was appointed. Mr. Overton was appointed as engineer in April, 1922, and he took up his duties in August of that year; he retained the position for three years, during which time the main portion of the reticulation was completed. Mr. J. A. Smith, who followed Mr. Overton, had practically completed the reticulation, and had seen the Board’s business grow to what it was to-day. The Board took its first supply of “juice” about four years ago, Shannon being supplied with current from the power plant at Mangahao. The Board took its first regular supply of electricity from the Department after the 'turning-on of the power in November, 1924. The opening of the plant was one of the last big functions which the late Mr. Massey attended. GROWTH OF THE LOAD. From that time and onwards the Board had seen a gradual growth of the load. Only 18 months after starting operations, the amount allocated, 1200 h.p., which it was estimated it would take five years to reach, was passed. To-day the load taken from Mangahao by the Board was about 1900 k.w. Ho felt safe in saying that the electrical service had been of verygreat benefit to the people of this district. He had young children who would never realise what it was to live in a country home without electricity, and all pertaining thereto. Owing to the effects of the heavy gale recently, he found himself sitting in his office with one candle-power, and it was somewhat difficult to imagine that he had in the past worked there with one candle-power; in fact, it/ had made him wonder if his sight was failing. The Board had endeavoured to make electricity uvailable to as many jieople as possible in this district. It had had its advantages in his own case — and lie was only one of several thousands in this istriedt. COST OF THE SCHEME.

The lines had been erected and practically the whole of the district reticulated for something in the vicinity of £IBO,OOO or £190,000. The Board took authority, on the recommendation of Mr. Overton, for £260,000 for the reticulation of the district. The Chairman felt that it would not he necessary for this or any future Board for many years to go hack to the ratepayers and ask for any further authority. The Board had been economical in its expenditure of capital, this being largely due to the officers it had had, and it had been able to give the people a satisfactory job at a reasonable rate. This would reflect itself immediately as far as the renewal or depreciation fund was concerned. This fund was, based on the amouut of the lines, arid it would not be a tie, as it would have been had the Board expended a great deal more capital. QUESTION OF ECONOMY.

They had projbaibly reached a stage where it was necessary to take advantage of opportunities for increasing their income and diminishing their outlay. They must very carefully guard against any extravagant expenditure, whether of capital or otherwise, and do all they could to add to the load at present on their mains. There had been a considerable reduction in the outside staff owing to the virtual completion of most of the lines. He was sorry that that reduction had had to be made, considering the hard times; but the engineer and the staff under him gave the men warning that this course was likely to be followed, and six of seven men were put off this autumn. The staff did all that was possible to see that the discharged men secured other work, if possible with other Boards. Reduction would apply to all branches of the Board’s work, hut they must bear in mind that, whilst they were cutting down the number of outside men, it was their duty to keep the current running over their lines. This Board had to keep more men

in outlying parts than some other Boards did. AN ESTIMATED LOSS. The position revealed by the estimates showed that the Board would probably come out with a loss of £872. He was optimistic enough to believe that they would probably make both ends meet. However, it was a little disappointing to' all the members that they were unable to make some further concessions. It would not be a wise thing to do, seeing that they were likely to show a slight loss on the year’s working. They had certain reserves by which the loss could be met, but they should see their way clear before any reductions were made. AN EMERGENCY.

The recent shortage of water at Mangahao had added considerably to the work of the Board’s office, and he would like to express appreciation of the way in which the officers, both of the Board and the Public Works Department, handled the situation. He did not think that many people realised how near the undertaking had been to a climax, which would have meant cutting oil the power to some of the supply authorities. The Department had been able to use supernumerary plants so as not to inconvenience anyone greatly, and the result rebounded to the credit of the officers of the Department, who had had a huge load on their shoulders. The Board should convey their thanks to their own customers, because he did not know of any oceasion when people had to go without something that they did not grumble, but in the connection mentioned he did not hear one complaint. The consumers had been very thankful to get the service at that time, and the Board’s thanks were due to them now.

THANKS TO BOARD, STAFF AND PRESS.

The chairman also expressed appreciation of the cordial support tendered him by the Board, and of the good work done by the members, individually and collectively. The chairman tendered his thanks to Mr. P. W. Goldsmith (secretary and treasurer), Mr. F. J. Ramsay (accountant), Mr. J. A. Smith (engineer), and the inside and outside staffs for the fine work they had done during the past year and the help afforded him; also the Press for the full reports of the Board’s operations, which assisted the ratepayers and consumers to know what the Board was actually doing. He assured the members that he would do what he could to further the interests of the Board, and, while he claimed to have a fair knowltdge of what were their requirements, he felt that by having their cordial support his duties were made much easier.