FOXTON WOOLPACK AND TEXTILE CO.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 4652, 28 May 1936, Page 3

FOXTON WOOLPACK AND TEXTILE CO.

APPLICATION FOR CHEAPER

POWER

At Tuesday’s meeting of the Horowhenua Electric PoAver Board the Nerv Zealand Woolpaek and Textiles, Limited, made reneAved application for a reduction in poAVer charges to their factory at Foxton. The company suggested that perhaps the Board could give a reduction for poAver used during the day but not on the peak load. It had given consideration to the acquiring of machinery for reducing the poAver factor and asked if the Board could gi\’e any assistance toAvard financing it. The chairman stated that Avhen the application Avas first made the special committee made a careful analysis of the charges, but found that it Avas unable to make a favourable recommendation to the Board. The company had noAV suggested a reduction in the rates for power used during the day but not on the peak load. His reply to that Avas that if the company Avas taken off the peak, the peak load Avould probably be shifted. However, that. Avas a matter for the engineer to ascertain. ' There Avas one aspect Avhich he Avishcd to point out. An investigation of the Board’s charges had been' made by a representative of. the electrical branch of the Public Works Department and in due course he avo uld report to the Minister. Until that report Avas available he thought the matter should be held over. The Board had pointed out to the company that if the Department made a reduction in its charges for poAver to the Board, then the concession could be handed on. If a reduction Avas made in this one instance it Avould have to be extended to all other factories in the same category. There Avas only a small profit on poAver supplied to the company and Avhile the Board Avas anxious to see it continue its operations, because there Avere other benefits in the way of poAver being consumer that in itself Aims not sufficient reason for the Board to supply at a loss, Avhich Avould have to be borne by its other consumers. Tie speaker moA r ed that the ques T tion of a reduction be held over pending the report by the Public ( Works Department and that the matter of assisting Avith financing of appliances for correcting the load factor be referred to the Finance Committee for a report. This Avas seconded by Mr Vickerman and carried. >