City Affairs

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 195, 20 August 1935, Page 5

City Affairs

MEETING OP COUNCIL When tho City Council met last evening tho Mayor (Mr A. E. Hansford) presided. Others present were Crs. J. Hodgens, W. B. Tenncnt, W. Mouldey, A. A. Langley, J. J. Stevenson, J. T. Heatlcy, G. Tremaine, W. B. Cameron and E. L. C. Aitehison. Messrs A. W. Hudson and B. \V. Doak, lessees of city reserves, wrote entering a protest against the action of tho council in granting a permit for tho building of a dwelling on the council's leasehold property in Marne street, of a value below that stipulated in the terms of lease. Apart from the effect, on the value of the council's property which the erection of dwellings of this kind would have, it was grossly unfair to those who had built already and complied with the conditions of lease. Tho matter -was referred to the works committee when the engineer will present a report. Tho organiser of tho Health Stamp campaign wrote stating that a health stamp and health camps campaign will bo launched this year with the object of raising £IO,OOO, and as part of the campaign it is intended to hold a street collection day on Friday, October 4, for which permission was requested. Tho council was also asked to consider setting aside so much for the purchase of health stamps iu support of the scheme. Tho writer is to be advised that both October and November have boon booked up by tho council for street collecting, which is only allowed oneo a month. Ho is also to bo informed that tho council is considering using a number of health stamps. Mrs A. Anderson wrote inquiring why Herctaunga street had not been included in the list of streets to be tar-sealed this year.—lt was decided to inform tho writer that certain streets had been decided upon, and in the event of the cost of these streets not being up to tht estimate, tho work of tar-sealing Herctaunga street- would then receive favourable consideration.

Mr A. E. Parker wxoto drawing attention to the condition of the footpaths in Mere Mere avenue. —It was decided that the request bo held over pending.consideration of the engineer’s report on footways to bo done. A request from Mr T. 11. Doherty that he be permitted to trap opossums in the Esplanade, Anzae and B'ledisloe parks was not agreed to. The Palmerston North Golf Club is to be advised that the council has been informed that a number of persons visited tho area in Park road and had disturbed stock to tho annoyance of tho tenants. The council sincerely hopes that such persons 'were not members of the- club.

Parking Matters The Automobile Association (Manawatu) wrote stating that it- had provided a parking area on private property in Broadway to relieve tho congestion on the parking areas in tho streets, and asking for the installation of somo lights so that tho area will bo lighted in tho evenings..—The city electrical engineer reported that to install two lights would cost £l6 10s, plus £lO annual maintenance. It was decided that whilst the council is prepared to co-opcratc in matters pertaining to parking, etc., it would be establishing a precedent if it agreed to the request, and also in view of the heavy cost it regrets that tho proposal' cannot bo acceded to. The same association wrote iu reference to tho increasing demand for parking spaco and suggesting an extensive survey of the position with a ci-ew to making provision for future requirements. —It was decided that as it is understood that a conference between tho Chamber of Commerce, r,he Automobile Association and the City Council is to be called by the chamber at an early date, the matter of parking, etc., bo brought forward for discussion.

Gas Department Trading Tho manager of the gas department (Mr J. W. Muir) reported as follows: “Comparing tho trading results of the gas department for the quarter ending June 30 last, with tho position as at the same date in .1034, it is found that the gross revenue account discloses that tho income was £9005, as against £5677 for the same period last year, an increase of £328, The expenditure was £6114 as against £6OSI last year, nu increase of £33. This figure is accounted for as follows: Tile works costs decreased by £142, the distribution costs increased by £l4B, the service department, meter repairs, etc., costs decreased by £65, the overhead costs in-, creased by £92. Tho trading account, sale of cookers, fires, etc., also show a credit of £165 this year, as against £l9 last year. From this you will see that the department, on the whole, shows an improvement 'of approximately £441 for tho quarter, as against the same period last year.” Sale of Electricity

Mr Muir also reported on. the electricity department trading as follows: ‘‘Comparing tho trading results of the electricity department for the quarter ended June 30 I'ast, with, the position as at the same date in. 1931, it is found that the revenue for the sale of light and power was £16,98-1, as against £17,232 last year, a decrease of £2lB. This is due .to some of the charges being lower' for the whole of the quarter under review, whereas last year a re* Auction was made during tho quarter and a portion of the quarter’s revenue was at higher rates. The expenditure gross revenue account was £7BBB as against £7290 last year, an increase of £598, which is made up as follows: Generation costs increase £175, power purchased and distribution costs increase £234, overhead costs increase £l9O. There were 236,355 units generated in 1935 as against 90,689 units for tho same period last year. The bulk supply cost £4794 this year, as against £4448 last year, an increase of £364, although the k.v.a. bought was only 1972 as against 205 S k.v.a. last year. This quarter’s power was, of course, paid for under the increased price arranged by the Minister of Public Works. Regarding the increase of £l9O in the overhead section, £125 of, this is due to the item ‘provision lot

bad debts,’ which did not appear in last year’s statement for this period. Tho trading account shows a profit of £9 12s Id as against a loss last year of £2.1 10s 9<3. The capital expenditure for tho period was £7SB as against £474 last year. Tho credit balance carried forward from appropriation account for tho period, was £4051 as against £3104 for the same period last year. ’ ’ The New Standby Plant Mr Muir also furnished a report on tho annual cost of tho new standby plant to the consumers as follows: — “The installed cost I estimate will be £25,000. Tho reserve fund, out of which tho plant will bo purchased, is at present returning 31 per cent, with tho Public Trustee; this on £25,000 is £S7S jior annum. The department has 5900 consumers. This therefore works out at 2s lid per consumer per annum; but as any increase in revenue necessary would be collected on current consumed, this basis would not be a fair comparison. For instance, a large shopkeeper would pay more than an ordinary householder. The same amount of extra cost, i.e., £S7S on the basis of tho revenue the department collects, would be (the department’s revenue is approximately £60,000 xier annum) equal to.Sld extra for every £1 collected. A consumer whose account is 10s per month would have to find l|d extra per month; but actually the position is this. The plant is constructed so that tho alternators can be used as synchronous condensers, and they are largo enough, individually, to correct tho power factor of the power bought, to unity. Tho effect of this is that a saving in tbe cost of the power bought from tho Power Board or P.W.D. of £tl7oo to £2OOO per annum, will be made, so that the actual position is that instead of the standby plant costing the consumers anything, it is going to reduce tho costs of power by au amount equal to approximately 3s 4d per consumer per annum, or 4d for every £1 of revenue collected.”