ELECTRIC POWER BOARD CONFERENCE IS OPENED

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6671, 26 July 1928, Page 10

ELECTRIC POWER BOARD CONFERENCE IS OPENED

ter Press Association. , WELLINGTON, Last Night. •' Tho sixth conference of Electric Power Boards was opened by the Premier to-day, Mr. J, A. Nash, M.P.J 'presiding. * ■ Mr. Contes commended the gathering on the small agenda paper, which, he stated, seemed to. foreshadow a lack of troublesome problems. There had always been close co-operation between the supply authoritie's and , the departments. of State. : Mr Coates quoted statistics showing the tremendous growth of power production. ' Tho capital invested in tho supply authorities and generating stations had increased from £1,500,000 in 1918 to £18,900,000 in 1927, and from 54,900 customers to 228,345. ‘f’ho revenue iif 192 7 was 'j approximately £3,000,000. The Government's: policy was to undertake the supply of electricity to all who would guarantee to take power. The development,of power in New Zealand, added Mr. Coates, read like a-romance and was brightening the lives of the people throughout the Dominion. k . _ The conference carried a remit asking that the provisions for,the establishment of depreciation funds should be modified so as to be less crippling to the finances of the younger boards. The conference carried a. remit to urge the Government to fix a uniform rate to bo charged boards irrespective of quantity, and also to issue a definite pronouncement that all profits of the Government from electrical undertakings! will be used: (1) for placing all such undertakings on a sound financial basis and (2) in reduction of the charges for power to the distribution authorities. ,

The conference also carried the following remits: A remit that the depreciation fund be not made compulsory until seven years after commencement of supply. A remit advocating electrical installations being made a charge upon the land. A remit extending the period of recovery of accounts for installations to three years from the date on which the last payment fell due in all cases where the account was to be paid on the deferred instalment system. : The Government to bo asked to abolish the existing unfair basis on which it charges a higher rate for each of the first 200 KVA used and to substituc therefore a more equitable charge based on a higher rate for a uniform fixed percentage of the total maximum demand of each supply. ■ The authority of Power Boards be placed on the same basis as County Councils with regard to settling labour disputes.