POLO IN CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18897, 20 December 1924, Page 15

POLO IN CANTERBURY.

TAHU CUP TOURNAMENT.. ! [UV TELEGRAPH.•■"-PnESS ASSOCIATION.] CHKISTCHURCH, Friday. In the first round of the Tahu Cup polo tournament Amurj (handicap 3) dofcated Parcora (scr.), by 7 goals to 4.

(Published by arrangement.) ELECTRICAL SERVICES. — ♦—■ ■■ . ■ AUCKLAND'S GREAT BOON. CHEAP POWER FOR HOUSES. MODERN UTILITIES PROVIDED. ECONOMY WITHOUT DRUDGERY. Every householder in Auckland may now secure at minimum cost the same electric power services that have revolutionised domestic life in older countries and have emancipated many British, American and Canadian slaves of the kitchen. The Auckland Electric Power Board has not only revised its former scale of charges to an appreciable level of cheapness, hut has made provision for a supply of electricity for' domestic purposes to* meet the demand for a more extensive application of electrical service to the home. The board's policy is the logical result of a remarkable development. Constructive work has reached that stage at which a greater consumption of electric power means a reduction in the cost of theState supply of current to Auckland from the hydroelectric works at llorahora and, later, at Arapuni. In addition, the more that consumption increases the greater thf possibility of a further reduction in the rates of * supply to consumers of power for domestic purposes. The service helongs to the people and is for the people; and after working expenses and all essential business charges have been met, the profits must go back to consumers in the form of cheaper rates. There is no diversion of profits to other public, services. This is one of the_ great advantages of Auckland's present system of electric power supply. Household Comfort and Efficiency. The opportunities that arc now offered in Auckland for cutting down domestic labour by the use of cheap electrical service, so that every housewife can enjoy the modern way of living, are not excelled in any Other centre in New Zealand. And there is no valid reason why the tremendous popularity of electricity for domestic purposes in England. Canada and the United States, where the use of labour-saving devices m private homes is a feature of national life, should not be emulated in Auckland. The Electric Power Board is at least making such emulation easy of accomplishment. The outstanding feature of the board's new scale of rates for the domestic use of electricity is that the adoption ol modern electrical utilities in the home will ensure comfort, cleanliness, better light, better and more economical cooking, and a welcome elimination of all the laborious trivialities of domestic work which are included in the term drudgery It is about time, anyway, that the oldfashioned proficency of household service which at its best can only be secured at a tremendous cost of labour, patience, and sacrifice of woman's happiness, gave wav to the efficiency of the magic of elect ricity. For there is no doubt that the domestic use of electric power in the home means, the saving of hours of work, improvement, of health, a pleasant kitchen atmosphere, good light for leisured study, and general household comfort. Lighting for less than Threepence a Day. The new scale of reduced charges for the domestic supply of electricity for Auckland should bring the advantages .<£ the service within the purchasing power of every household. Careful calculation by expert officers of the board shows that the annual cost of electric power for lighting, cooking, ironing, and the supply of a continuous hot-water service will in no sense be a burden upon the avert.go household. Charges are based on a consumption rate of 200 units a year for each household, which is, if anything, rather a low average for Auckland, since many individual consumers of electricity for domestic purposes run up to 400 units for household requirements. For the first 200 units the rate is sd. per unit, after which the rate drops to 3d. per unit for an additional 200 units. All the units consumed in excess of 400 wiJl be supplied at. l|d. per unit. Therefore, the more power that is consumed the cheaper will be the rate for the aggregate supply, and the wider the range of a use of labour-saving appliances iu the household.

In simple terms, without any reference to technicalities at all, the position is this: Cost of lighting, less than threepence a day. Cost of cooking and ironing, loss than eight pence a day. Cost of a continuous supply of hot water, fourpence a day. If these costs be set against the expense and the wear and tear of similar services by other means than electrical power, the advantages of the revised policy of the Auckland Power Board arc obvious, and deserving of keen consideration by every household that requires to study economy with reasonable comfort and household happiness. Simplicity and Convenience.

Another important feature of the Power Board's policy and aims is that, under the new schome, every house requires only one meter, this" advantage minimising the cost of installation both I to the consumer and to the board. There is no restriction on the use and number of electrical appliances, and no matter how much apparatus may be employed there will be no necessity for a 'multiplicity of meters. One meter will cover the consumption of electricity for lighting, washing ironing, pumping of water, charging appartus for car battery or wifeless set, radiators. cooking and it may be noted specially that a special low rate has been fixed for continuous water heating, this ranging from £4 to £10 a year, according to household requirements. For an average household the cost works out at fourpence a day. The system of electric heating of water for household service is simple. It is nothing more than tho familiar highpressure system with the difference that instead of using a coal range, an electric appliance is installed in the tank. There is thus tin trouble of preparation. There is no danger of explosion through neglect, of turning off taps. No matches are required and by the simple process of paying from £4 to £10 per year a continuous supply of hot water is obtained for every tap in the house all the time, day and' night. The system is technically known as Thermal Storage. The cost, is fixed on. a flat rate and based upon consumption. The charge is ,£1 per 100 watts, and in general practice the average household requires from 400 to 600 watts a year. So that in one case, allowing for five per cent, discount, the annual cost will be £3 165., while in the other the charge will be £5 14s. A similar service of continuous hot water supply is exceptionally popular in the Tauranga district, to cite experience near home. So much so, indeed, that the quantity of electric energy sold in Tauranga for water heating purposes is out of all proportion to the power sold for cooking. Depot and Display Shop'. An attractive display of modern electrical appliances is to bo made at the Power Hoard's new depot at the corner fit" Wolleslcy and Lome Streets. This depot is to serve a double purpose. It is to bo an office for receiving accounts. thus meeting the convenience of thou sands of consumers who find it irksome to visit the board's main offices in Quay Street, while the shop part of the con. verted building will be used as a de monstration depot. Every modern appliance that can be bought at the electrical trade shops in Auckland for the use Of electricity for domestic purposes will be displayed. All the different makes of j Moves, washing machines, irons, radiators, ; and cooking and labour-saving devices will be on view, while an attendant will be available for the purpose of explain ing the working of different apparatus and the price at which any and all appliances can be bought in Auckland. Consumers will not require to "run round the town" to examine the different makes Of electrical apparatus, but will sec every -

thing concentrated in an attractive exhibition and learn immediately where to ,-, .> procure any appliance desired arid -tho price "of it. •--■." It should be clearly understood that it is uofc the intention of the Auckland ■■ - Power Board to sell any apparatus at the Wellesley depot, which is to be opened early in January. The idea is to place before consumers when they call to pay their accounts all the latest and best electrical appliances for increasing tho comfort of home life and reducing the cost of living. The board's progressive policy establishes in Auckland electrical supply conditions for domestic purposes comparable' to those of the largo cities of America. It may bo taken as certain that alert, Aucklanders will not be slow in seizing the opportunities for more comfort, more, efficiency, and more economy in the home.