SERVING THE NORTH WITH POWER

Northern Advocate, 8 February 1936, Page 2

SERVING THE NORTH WITH POWER

ENGINEER OUTLINES PROCEDURE

[Special to “Northern Advocate.'! PAPAROA, This Day.

The procedure in regard to installing electricity into consumers’ homes, cowsheds and other buildings was the subject of a report by Mr T. R. Overton, engineer, to the North Auckland Power Board at Dargaville yesterday. Mr Overton said it was proposed to start with two canvasser-inspectors, one at Paparoa and the other at Dargaville. The two would work towards each other, and when the canvass of .a particular part was completed, those who desired a supply would be formed into groups of from 30 to 50.

Tenders would be called for the installation work, each consumer being advised of the accepted price of his particular installation. When the final deposit was paid, the contractor woifld commence the work. An amount of* approximately 5 per cent would be added by the board to cover the cost of canvassing and so

,! At the same time as the canvassers wiring, consumers would be ■ given the option to purchase applian- ! ces, such as electric ranges, motors, water-heaters, and pumps from the !board.

Service Lines.

'Service lines, the engineer con-

tinued, would be erected exclusively by the board, and, subject to certain allowances, he recommended that the board’s charges for the erection of service lines be:

I ; Four wire, 2/3 per yard; three • j wire, 2/2 per yard; two wire, 1/8 i per yard; terminal pole fitted and ' | erected, 50/. } Suggested allowances were: j Where service lines were paid for in ■ j cash the prices to be subject t<f a disi count of 10 per cent. (2.) In all cases, j the first 20 yards of service line from i the consumer’s boundary inwards j would be erected free of charge. (3.) j For each electric range or milking | motor installed 20 yards of service line would be erected free of charge and for each water-heater or field pump motor 10 yards of service line free of charge. Measurements of service lines would be taken to the yard along the route of the line. Wherever a settler was able to supply service line poles, allowances will be made for good poles up to 20/ each. Advances to Consumers. In order to overcome the delay in many cases of prospective users of j electricity not connecting their prei mises to the system ,at the outset, Mr ! Overton continued, a loan of £30,000 j.was passed by the ratepayers to as- | sist those requiring such aid. The canvassers would take applications for finance on the prescribed forms, and these would be svibmitted to the board for approval. He recommended that advances be made on the' following terms: (1.) A deposit of 20 per cent of the cost of the installation before commencing the work; (2) balance of the post of the installation with interest on the unpaid balance at the rate of

5 per cent, payable in quarterly instalments; (3) no advance to exceed £120; (4) all applications for flnanI cial assistance must be approved at I ,the monthly meeting of the board bej fore acceptance; (5) no application to ! -ae granted unless the applicant’s [ name appeared on the valuation roll ras owner or occupier, or otherwise ' forwarded proof that he was in occupation of the land upon which he desired the installation; (6) the .consumer to be entitled to pay off any moneys due upon the installation at any time, without notice; (7) advanvances not to be made for any period exceeding three years. Mr Overton added that he had suggested a deposit of 20 per cent, but that was intended when normal conditions were reached, and the consumer would have the use of the curi'ent within a month or six weeks from signing up. However, in order to seal up an agreement to some extent, he suggested that a payment of, say, 5 per cent, was advisable. Report Adopted.

- Mr L. W. Nelson asked if it was possible to introduce 1 a system of renting to consumers the various electrical appliances the board would be selling. Mr Overton said that the rental basis for the installation of electrical appliances was not in the best interests of the board. A system of inspection, which would be expensive, would have to be devised, but it might be possible to differentiate between a rental basis and a hire-purchase

agreement. On the motion of Mr Appleton, the report v/as adopted unanimously.