ELECTRICAL ENERGY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 199, 23 July 1926, Page 10

ELECTRICAL ENERGY

POWER BOARB -I CONFERENCE. LARGE - ATTENDANCE OF DELEGATES. The fourth conference of the Electric Rower Boards’ Association of New Zealand opened at Parliament Buildings, 'Wellington, yesterday. Mr J. A. Nash, M.P. (Manawatu-Oroua), presided over an attendance of upwards of a hundred delegates representing 40 boards. ‘

The president said it had been customary in the past for the Prime Minister to open the proceedings, but unfortunately Mr Coates had been laid aside by illness. The Prime Minister had, however, written to say that he had always taken the keenest interest in the work of the power boards, and he would in the future as in the past do all he could to forward the development of hydro-electricity in the Dominion.

The Minister of Public Works (Hon. K. S. Williams), in extending a welcome to the delegates, said that he was anxious to learn, and lie wanted to help them. Hydro-electricity was a comparatively new thing in' the Dominion, but it was growing. Mr F. T. M. Kisscll, officer in cliargo of the Hydro-electric Division of the Public Works Department, said' he was pleased to see that the power boards had started technical committees. The Department had received the greatest assistance from these technical advisers. The Department would welcome at all times any criticism which might be levelled against its administration, and would . give consideration to the representations made by the association. On the motion of Mr W. J. Holdsworth (Auckland), a vote of sympathy with the Prime Minister (Right Hon. J. G. Coates) in his illness was passed, and hopes were expressed for his speedy recovery.

PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. The president, reviewing the past year, expressed the grateful thanks of the association to the engineers and secretaries of the power boards. ' The setting up of conferences of engineers and secretaries had been a step in the right direction. They had the right class of men to help them in engineering and financial problems. While it cost a little money to send their engineers and secretaries to these conferences, it was Well worth while. Their trouble at the present time was that the Mangahao plant was working up to its fullest capacity, and there was therefore no necessity to push the sale of supply. . It was clear that Mangahao would be a payable proposition long before 1930. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Mr W. P. Govain submitted a report of the Power Boards’ Engineers’ conference.

METHOD OF ELECTION. Mr Leighton (Waitemata) submitted a remit providing that the 1925 Act should be so amended as to proj vide for the election of power boards by ratepayers only. Under the present system, he maintained, town boards could swamp the county. Mr A. C. Russell (Central Hawke’js Bay) seconded the remit. \ Mr A. J. McCurdy (Hutt Valley!) asked if under the system of ratiifg upon unimproved values there was any necessity to stress the capital value, j The president said they all supported the principle that where huge expenditure was at stake the ratepayers should govern it. He did not think, however, that there was much chance of getting the alteration through Parliament. Mr W. J. Holdsworth (Auckland) said that Auckland’s experience had made them in favour of broad rather than of narrowing the *fanchise. 4 The remit was thrown out. * • A remit from Manawatu-Oroua, requesting that legislation bo sought allowing power boards to grant .men who have been in their employ fori twou years a week’s holiday on full ipay, whether the men work under, an award or not, was approved. ' . LOANS.

The president moved: “(1) In addition to other modes of investment of loan moneys authorised by law, a board may in any case where it is deemed desirable deposit with any other board at interest any sums of money at credit in any loan account; (2) the interest to be applied by the board receiving the loan towards tho payment of interest and sinking fund of tho loan.” The motion was earned.

A remit put forward by the secretaries’ committee, that debentures of power boards be included as an approved investment under the Friendly Societies Act, was endorsed. A remit from Taranaki, aiming at making added areas contribute to special rates, was approved. At the instance of the Franklin Board it was decided to ask for statutory power for imprest accounts, similar to the authority contained in tho Counties’ Amendment Act, 1925.

SALE OF PROPERTY. f Mr J. C. Cooper (Wairarapa) moved a remit, suggesting that the law be amended to enable boards to Bell, with the consent of the Minister, either leasehold or freehold property or plant, either for. cash or on mortgage. The remit was carried. ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES. Christchurch put forward a remit, affirming the desirability of a board being set up to give approval to all apparatus sold to the public, or connected- to the mains of electric supply authorities. The remit was carried, it being pointed out that steps had already been taken to constitute such a Dannevirke requested that the . Government be asked to decrease the duty on electrical appliances.' Mr A. C. Russell (Central Hawke’s Bay) maintained that the electrical equipment at present was too high. The remit was approved. ' Central Hawke’s Bay suggested that, guarantees for consumption of current should be a fixed charge upon the land for security purposes, new owners automatically taking over the guarantees. The remit was endorsed. . It was also agreed that appliances sold under section 120 of the 1920. Act be made a charge upon the land. At the instance of the Tararua Board, it was decided to ask the Public Works .Department to make the matter of laying gas pipes in proximity to electrical - conduit circuits m any building an urgent question for regulation. /

ADVERTISING PROPAGANDA. The secretaries’ committeo put forward a remit suggesting that a com-

mittee bo appointed to deal with advertising propaganda for use of all supply authorities and that tho matter of- defraying expenses in connection therewith be defined by the association.

Mr Kissell, chief hydro-electrical engineer, said that it had been Suggested that the Electrical Federation, the power boards and the department should combine in an advertising Campaign to encourage the use of electrical power. Mr A. C. Russell (Central Hawke’s Bay) said there was an electrical trust. What they wanted was to get the price of electrical fittings reduced. Delegates pointed out that extensive advertising was done in the United States and Canada by electrical interests. The public as yet were ignorant as to the advantages of electricity. The president said he was quiet in favour of advertising propaganda, but where was the money to come from? Mr F. W. Watt (Ashburton) moved as an amendment that a committee be set up to draft a schenje af national advertising. If the association did not join in with the Government and the Electrical Federation they would have to launch a scheme of their own. Mr E. Hitchcock (Christchurch City Council) pointed out that all boards were not in a position to supply power. If they embarked upon a vigorous advertising scheme, it would only increase tho embarrassments of many boards.

Mr S. J. Harbutt (Auckland) said his board found demonstrations the best method of advertising. Mr Watt’s amendment to refer the matter'of advertising propaganda to a committeo was carried. DISCOUNT FOR PROMPT PAYMENT. Dannevirke asked that the Government be again asked to extend the privilege of discount to Mangalrao boards if prompt payment were made. Mr Kissell asked if the power boards would agree that rates should be standardised throughout the country. At present all electrical schemes had to stand upon their own bottom. Dannovirke was one of the schemes from which the Government received least return.

Mr E. A. Ransom (Dannevirke) withdrew tire remit, and moved that as soon as existing contracts expired the rates for hydro-electrical power be standardised throughout the Dominion. Electrical power, lie said, was a national affair.

Mr A. C. Russell (Central Hawke’s Bay), in seconding the motion, said that the North Island railways were paying handsomely, and were carrying the South Island lines on their back. The motion was carried.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Tire election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: President, Mr J. A. Nash, M.P. (ManawatuOroua); executive, Messrs G. A. Monk (Horowhenua), E. A. Ransom Dannevirke), W. J. Holdsworth (Auckland), A. W. Rodger (Southland), J. Kennedy (South Canterbury), J. W. Kershaw (Wairarapa), A. J. McCurdy (Hutt Valley), A. C. Russell (Central Hawke’s Bay), F. W. Watt (Ashburton) ; secretary, treasurer and legal adviser, Mr T. F. Martin. • The next conference was fixed for July, 1927.