ELECTRIC CURRENT

Northern Advocate, 19 December 1932, Page 7

ELECTRIC CURRENT

00 V PEN .M EN T 8 U.l ’PL 11C 8. POSITION OP COL NT i; V BOARDS. PLAT PATP DEMANDED. (Si'iecial to ".NorMiern Advocate.") TE ,I\.UITI, Saturday. The contention fhat tin*ro should be a, ilat rate charge for all current supplied by the Government to electric power boards, thus placing country boards In the same position as similar bodies in the cities, was again advanced at: a meeting of the Waitomo Electric Power Hoard.

In moving that a special economy committee be set Tip to go into the whole question of reduction of costs and report to a special meeting of the board, Mr Biins declared the greatest burden was the cost of power.

-Mr Gorton: W'lxy not wait for a lead from the Government 1 It is expected that great changes may eventuate after January 29, when Parliament assembles again. The Chairman: I agree with the sotting up of a special economy committee, but we should await the deliberations of the New Year Parliament.

-Mr Sims: It is hopeless to expect, anything. Wc have waited too long already. "It should have been tackled two years ago. The chairman (Mr Lee) said there were two points to be considered in dealing with future economics—reduced interest on debentures and power chargee—and he thought it wiser not to rush matters.

Mr Hi ms; The position is so desperate for the farmers that; we cannot wait a moment longer. I, with others, have been hoping to gel round the corner, but there appears to be no corner to get round.

Mr Lee considered that city boards should be prepared to assist. A member interjected something about the need of a reduction in the number of power boards, and this brought a very definite declaration from the Otorohanga farmers’ representative. “If there is no alternative, let the Dublin Works Department take over the whole of the. power boards,” he said. “I don’t care if the small

power boards are wiped out to morrow. ”

The sceret.'iry said that a reduction of the Public Works Department’s charge to the city level would mean a saving of £I4OO per annum to the con-

sumers. The special committee will report at a full meeting on January ikl.