THE POWER BOARDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18103, 11 February 1922, Page 10

THE POWER BOARDS.

AMENDING BILL PASSED. SOUTHLAND RETICULATION. AUCKLAND CHARGES VARIEp [EI TELECRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Friday. A short amending Bill was introduced in the House by the Government to deal with some pressing amendments that are required in the Electric Power Boards Act of 1918. A General Amending Bill will bo introduced next session. Tho Minister for Public Works, Hon. J. G. Coatcs, said clause 2 referred to tho Southland Power Board and gave permission to reticulate portions of the district instead of making it compulsory to reticulate the whole area simultaneously. As the Act stood at present tho board would have to strike a rate over the whole area, which, under the circumstances, would not be necessary Now the board would bo able to strike a rate over a particular area that was benefiting. Another clauso referred to* Central Otago and gave a board power to sell water for irrigation purposes at a price to be approved by the Minister. The amendment proposed in clause 4 was to allow boards to reticulate any portion of a district when the original license did not apply. Tho principal Act provided for the payment out of loan moneys of interest or interest and sinking fund during the period of the construction of the. works for which the loan was raised. Tho proposal in clause 5 of the now Bill is that such payments may be made for the first year or with the consent of the Minister for any longer period not exceeding the period of the construction of the works or a period of three years, whichever is tlie less.

In reply to a request from Mr. J. A. Young (Waikato) the Minister said he would next session bring down an amendment of the Act enabling boards to acquire land and build dwellings thereon for their employees. The present Bill dealt only with amendments that were urgent. The Bill, while a general measure, contains one clause making an alteration in tlie Auckland Electric Power Board Act passed earlier this session. Under tho Act it was provided that tho charges for current should bo not more than Is per unit for lighting purposes and 6d per unit for motor power, heating, or cooking purposes with a reduction to 9d and 4d respectively for payment within 14 days of tho due date. It was further stipulated that in the case of wholesale stipplv the charge should not exceed £12 per borse-power per a<nnum, wholesale supply being defined as a supply in respect of which the consumer guaranteed to pay. The new Bill varies this arrangement. Tho arrangement in respect to wholesale supply is to be as follows: "In tho case of wholesale supply tho charges shall not exceed £16 per kilo volt ampere per annum based ou the maximum output plus a charge at tho rate of Jd ]fer unit." For the purposes of this section "maximum output" means twice the number of units consumed in the half hour during which the output is tho maximum for the year, and the term "wholesale supply" shall be held to bo the supply of power to a consumer, who, under a license is authorised to sell power in a retail manner." The Bill passed all its stages.