BULK ELECTRICITY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 47, 24 January 1939, Page 2

BULK ELECTRICITY.

LOWER CHARGES REQUESTED.

TE AWAMUTU, Jan. 23,

“I really believe the present Minister for Public Works is sympathetic* to the power supply authorities in their requests for a reduction in the outstanding charges for bulk supply, but the trouble appears to be that tho Minister of Finance is the final arbiter in these matters,” said Mr J. T. Johnson, chairman, at a meeting of the Te Awamutu Power Board, when advice was received that charges for bulk supply could not be reduced.

Mr Johnson said the remission of rent and other ohatges in connection with the sub-stations was a step towards reductions. The matter of reductions had been the subject of representations year after vear bv th« Power Supply Authorities’' Association, hut successive Ministers had consistently refused it.

On the subject of Government assistance to power boards in reticulating sparsely-settled districts, Mr Johnson said the Minister had not been able to give the association’s executive deputation much encouragements at present. The Minister had indicated that lie had in mind several matters affecting the power supply authorities, and would advise the executive as soon as possible.