Power and Light

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 57, 9 March 1943, Page 3

Power and Light

MANAW ATU-OROUA DISTRICT. Mr. J. Boyce (chairman) presided at yesterday’s meeting of the ManawatuOroua Power Board. Others present were Messrs. J. A. Nash, M. A. Eliott, J. T. J. lTeatley, W. McKay, J. H. Mason, P. G. Guy, C. G. C. Dermer, W. P. Bickers, Jos. Batchelar and L. Hogg. A letter was received from the Electric Power Board’s Association stating that it would be necessary to control the load during 1943 and that approximately the same increase would be possible this year as for 1942. The letter asked if there were any special conditions to be taken into consideration in the Alana-watu-Oroua district. The Managing-Secretary (Mr. Eglinton) read a reply he hud drafted and extracts dealing with control are as follow: “The Board over tho last three years has insisted that all water heaters other than in cowsheds, must be metered. All consumers have been circularised. Numerous advertisements have been placed in the papers. Installations have been restricted. With reference to the circulars arid advertisements (mentioned above) we found that ministerial or other statements appear in the press stating that the electrical supply is all right. We also find that radio appeals are made to conserve electricity, and the next minute firms are advertising radiators etc. for sale, and how economically they are to run. The whole thing is so confusing. “If direct appeals are made to consumers as was made with the radiator appeal of last year, which was a great’success, the position is known, and with what the boards are doing, co-operation will bo obtained. “There must be a definite policy by the Government if the power is really short; then Ministers should not make contradictory statements.’’ Mr. Eliott voiced the opinion of the meeting when he said that it would meet the position excellently. The chairman claimed it was not right that the Board should be put in a false position by misleading statements. Mr. Guy moved that particulars of the position as the Board found it last year should be sent to the Minister cf Public Works. A further letter from tho Association made reference to the bulk power position* stating that the position was again going to be serious this winter and that boards should again make every effort to keep the unit consumption down. Mr. Guy: Would It be possible for power boards to be advised of Ministerial statements before those statements are released for publication. The Chairman: That is what should be .done. It is not right that we should ask for conservation of power and for Ministers to “cut the ground from under our feet.” The Chairman added: The position is bad but it is not necessary to make it The Engineer (Mr. W. A. Waters): Plug-in stoves and ranges are being put in. They arc using a lot of power and they are over-loading the lines. The Chairman: It is up to the Government to stop the sale of plug-ins. Mr. Nash and Mr Mason moved that the Association be written to to approach Mr. Kissell with a view to bringing regulations prohibiting the use of plug-in ranges above 2400 watts. In answer to Mr. Heatley, the Chairman said that a consumer did not have to explain the purpose for which a point was intended. Tho motion was carried. The statement of accounts to 28/2/43, which was considered satisfactory, was adopted. It showed that the total for 10 months, 1943, was £127,291 0s 9d, compared with £116,092 lls lid, for the corresponding period, 1942, the increase being £ 10,598 8s lOd. Mr. Egliuton also submitted a special report dealing with the sale of electricity for military purposes and with the £10,60S increase. He added that the construction stocks held by the Board were very low—approximately £4,900 when during ordinary times, the value of them would bo about £15,000. He continued that time payments were coining in all tlie time and that they were decreasing owing to restrictions on new installations. Trading stocks, also, were very low, but this did not affect the Board at the present time. Mr. Eglinton considered that after tlie war it would be in the interest of the Board and its consumers to do more in this connection than had been done in the past. The position to-day, lie explained, was that tlie Board did not need much money for working capital owing to the fact that it could not purchase stocks witn which to carry on its usual activities. The special report was adopted on the motion of Messrs. Eliott and W. P. Bickers and it was also decided that any surplus money be placed on fixed deposit at the bank. It was also agreed tiiat the Board should be prepared to do more in I he matter of trading than in the past, tlie reason being that it would be in the best interests of the consumers.