6d RATE FOR ELECTRICITY

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 175, 27 July 1938, Page 2

6d RATE FOR ELECTRICITY

Dannevirke Board’s Decision PREVIOUS RATE REVISED At yesterday’s meeting of the Danne virke Electric Power Board a special report of the finance committee’s investigation of the new rate for electricity was received. This investigation was made in accordance with a motion from Mr. H. P. Horne and Mr. A. England at tho last meeting of the board wlien there was a long discussion and the nominal reduction previously passed on by tho board to the consumers. Tho relevant extract of their report read:—“Carrying out the instructions issued by the board at the last meet ing, your committee went fully into the working of the new domestic rate to ascertain if it was possible to adjust the anomalies created thereby, and now recommend that in lieu of the present rate which is: “First 15 units per month at 7d; next 20 units per month at 4d; all in excess of 35 Id. be substituted by the following rate:— “First 15 units at 6d per unit. “Next 30 units at 3d per unit. * ‘All over 45 units at Id. “The estimated cost to the board is £ISOO per annum.” Tho chairman, Mr. M. O. Grainger speaking on the subject, said that naturally considerable thought and time had been given to the matter but he was convinced from the experience of other boards that tho step rate was necessary. “I ask you to notice that we are giving away another £IOOO but we aro introducing the much-desired sixpenny rate,” he said. ‘‘When you reflect that 15 units under this proposed rate will cost less than 2s per week allowing for the discount, there should be no objections.” Mr. C. F. Barker: There will still be quite a number who will pay more than under tho old rate, but the percentage of those affected will bo much, smaller. Mr. A. H. R. Gillespie commented that it was a pity that the volume ot work on hand would be increased by the measure.

Tho chairman stated that only from 8 to 10 per cent, might now be penalised, and Mr. Barker said there were very few who could not pay more than 2s 6d per month. 1 * The alterations will be a great help,” he said.

Mr. F. Craven: We cannot do better for them in fairness to the larger consumer.

The chairman: We all sympathise with the small consumer but we must either go back to the old rate and merely increase discounts or adopt the new rate. It is a stage in a board’s growth, but I am quite certain It Is the only way. He then moved the auwpnon of the finance committee’s recomtoenda tion which Mr. Hansard seconded. It was carried, the chairman remarking that the cost of a further £IOOO to the board was a tremendous concession.

With regard to a further anomaly pointed out by Mr. Horne at tho pre vious meeting and which existed when shopkeepers were living behind theibusiness premises, the board, on the motion of Messrs Hansard and England, passed a resolution that the wiring must in cases be either split and separately metered or that all consumption be charged on the higher rate as from August I, 1938. Street Lighting.

The following recommendation of the finance committee framed in response to the appeal of the Dannevirke Borough Council, was also adopted by the board and will apply equally to the Woodville borough:—“ Your committee recommend that the charges for street lighting on tho series street lighting system and metal filament lamps be reduced by 5 pel* cent, per annum as from July 1, 1938, provided the concessions are utilised by the council in having additional lamps installed.”