ELECTRIC POWER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 257, 27 September 1940, Page 5

ELECTRIC POWER

HOROWHENUA BOARD

Mr G. A. Monk presided' at the monthly meeting of the Horpwhcriua Power Board, at Levin, also present being Messrs W. E. Barber. T. G. Vincent, R. 0. Horn blow, A. E. Hyde, C. S. Keedwell, F. W. Vickennan and A. Seifert.

In reply to Mr Hyde, the chairman said the board was compelled by law to hold open the positions of employees going overseas with the forces. Jn addition, their payments to the superannuation fund were to bo sustained, and they would receive their usual salary or wages for the annual holidays which fell due throughout their absence. It was decided to support the holding of the annual Power Boards’ Conference next February. A letter from the Electric Power Boards’ and Supply Authorities’ Association intimated that its executive had been invited by Hon. It. Semple to give an opinion as to the advisability of postponing the local body elections duo next year. The chairman commented that, generally speaking, the members of local bodies lelt the elections should take place as usual il it were possible. The responsibility rested entirely on the Government, and he was confident it would do the right thing under the conditions existing at the time.'—The board agreed that the matter was one for the Government. The Hutt County Council wrote enquiring at what price the board would give an all-night street lighting service at Paraparaumu beach and township and Paekakariki beach.—The chairman reported that the finance committee recommended that an all night service be given for an extra 5s 6d per lamp. Mr Vickerman pointed out that there were 28 lamps at Paekakariki and about 30 at Paraparaumu, and he thought the better service could be given at a more favourable rate than 5s 6d extra per lamp. It was decided to submit the extra cost recommended by the committee. Mr Monk said two urgent works were facing the board. One was the extension of the lighting at the R.N.Z.A.F. Station at Weraroa, which involved tho construction of a section of new line, and the other was the provision of lighting at the Foxton racecourse of the Territorial camp. Thtlattcr was to be a temporary connection only.

.“The time is not far distant when pole replacements in the board’s district will be fairly heavy,” remarked Mr Hyde. He had inspected the poles removed from the lino along Paraparaumu Beach road and they bore unmistakable signs of wear. The chairman said tho poles in this particular line had been up for 16 years, and the polos had not been desapped, The engineer (Mr ,T. A. Smith) commented that over the last ten years all the poles erected had been desapped, and they would last front 35 to 40 years. INCREASED SALES.

The treasurer gave a comparative statement of the revenue earned for tho first five months of the current financial year. It showed the following increases over the corresponding period of last year: Domestic, 310.521 units, £1787; water-heating, £432; commercial light and heating, 69,322, £B2; water-heaters, £237; power, 91,256, £788; street lights, £24; 471,099, £3350; less discounts, £400; total, £3756. “Tho statement shows net electricity sales for the period to he £26,059,” said Mr Frederikson, “as against £22,303' for the previous year, an increase of £3756. With the exception of commercial light, the increase in sales has been well maintained.

The chairman said the statement disclosed a continuance of the increase which had been taking place all along. The most pleasing feature was. the increase reflected in the power figures. The number of consumers in the district is now nearing the 6000 mark. Figures prepared by the engineer show that there are 5961 consumers, while 10,577 heating points, 1042 industrial motors, 1334 milking motors, 1553 ranges and 2005 waterheaters are in use. Twenty-four new consumers and 49 extensions have been connected, included in which are 13 ranges, 17 water-heaters, six milking, eight separator and eight industrial motors.