POWER BOARD AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19177, 17 November 1925, Page 11

POWER BOARD AFFAIRS.

THE CHARGES FOR CURRENT.

LARGE CONSUMERS' POSITION,

EMPLOYEES AND WAGES. The Auckland Elect/ric Power Board met yesterday, the chairman, Mr. W. J. Iloldsworth, presiding. There were also present: Messrs. S. J. Harbutt, S. I. Crookes, J. Park, J. Dempsey, L. Joll, ,T. Rowe, H. T. Goldie, E. H. Potter, 11. G. Clark and T. Bloodworth. A .letter was received from Messrs. Wright, Stephenson and Company, asking that the extra charge of 10 per cent., levied for the supply of industrial power in the suburban area, be not applied to the firm's chemical works at Otahuhu. The board in committee recommended that the board's policy be given effect to and the request granted. The policy was laid down some time ago in a resolution which provided that the extra cent, would not be charged in the event of the revenue derived from a consumer amounting to over £2OOO in one year. The recommendation was approved, Mr. Potter advising his intention of reopening the question of the rebate in general at a later meeting. His attitude was that large and small industrial- consumers should be treated alike.

The district electrical engineer of the Public Works Department at Hamilton, Mr. T. MacLennan, wrote with reference to the stoppages of Horahora power complained of by the board. The line to Penrose, he stated, was now being supplied from a separate bank of transformers at Horahora which should, minimise the possibility of interruption.

The tender of the National Electrical Company, acting on behalf of the British Insulated and lielsby Company, of Britain, was accepted for the supply of bare cable for high and low tension reticulation work. The price was £5890. In connecting with the recent application of the Electrical Workers' Union that effect should be given to the Arbi tration Court's pronouncement reconi mending the payment in certain cases uf another Id per hour in wages, the board in committee reported that, in accordance with expressions contained in tho general manager's report, it had been decided to increase the wages of the lowest paid workers —the cable layers' assistants—from Is 10gd per hour to Is lid

per hour. A letter was received from the secretary of the Electrical Workers' Union advising that application had been made for an industrial dispute to be heard before a council of conciliation respecting the wages and conditions of operators in the main station and sub-stations. The switchboard attendants have so far been working under a private agreement with the board. The general manager expressed the opinion in his report that the men were now receiving 'remuneration amply in proportion to "their responsibilities and duties and suggested that the present rates the basis of the board's counter offer. The report was adopted.

PROGRESS IN WAITEMATA,

REVIEW BY THE ENGINEER

The Waitemata Electric Power Board met yesterday, the chairman, Mr. J. W. Hayden, presiding. The engineer, Mr. W. P. Gauvain, reported that good consignments of poles had arrived and were being delivered to the main 11,000-volt line from New Lynn to the Government sub-station north of Henderson, the branch 11,000-volt line from Glen Eden to the Great North Road, the main road from Takapuna to Northcote, and at Henderson, Glen Eden, New Lynn and Takapuna. Poles had also been laid out on the Takapuna tram route for the joint use of the board and the Tramway Company. In New Lynn a metering equipment was being installed for measuring the supply of power received from the Auckland Power Board and would be ready next Sunday, when power would have to be cut off while the connections were being made. Service lines were being run to the various houses which were already wired. In Henderson the greater part of the pole erection had been completed, and a second gang would be started immediately on the erection of the main 11,.000-volt line from New Lynn to the north. Pole erection would also be started shortly in Glen Eden and New Lynn. On the North Shore two gangs had been started on the erection of poles, the first in the. Milford district, and the second on the main 11,000-volt line, from Taharoto Road toward Northcote.

Contracts had been let for the construction of brick and concrete depots at Takapuna, Henderson and Helensville. Storage sheds had alreadv been erected on the depot sites at Henderson and Takapuna. A reply was received from the Public Works Department regarding ,he board's inquiry as to its rights in erecting poles to take the transmission line through New Lynn. The department aibvsed that, provided the poles were so erected as not to create a public nuisance, the New Lynn Town Board could noi restrain the Power Board from putting up its poles through the township. It was not necessary to obtain the Town Board's consent.

It was decided to take oat a third party insurance policy to meet possible contingencies during the period of pole construction.

It was reported that a number of New Lvnn consumers had declined to pay rhe 10s deposit demanded by t.he board when application forms were signed. It was decided to give the persons in question a week's notice in which to p-iy, in default. of which supply would be cut cff. With regard to the New Lynn Town Board's recent request for a* 10 vears' guarantee that charges would not be greater than 5 per cent of the inner area rates, Mr. ,T. Mackie was among those who opposed the motion.