WAIRERE POWER BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19503, 6 December 1926, Page 12

WAIRERE POWER BOARD.

PROPOSED CHARGES REVISION DISTRICT TO BE, CANVASSED. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] TE KUITI, Saturday. The Wairere Power Board met at Piopio yesterday, the chairman, Mr. E. Tolme, presiding. The Piopio School Committee asked the board to earth fences near the school free of charge. K was decided to circularise the schools of the district offering to earth fences if the children would do the work under the supervision of the board's sjiaff. Referring to security offered by consumers for advances for their installations, the chairman said the board had no proof that some of the properties were ■ actually freehold. He advocated having searches made in certain doubtful cases. Messrs. G. Nelson and C. Riddle opposed this on the ground of excessive; expense. Mr. Nelson proposed that a sworn declaration as to the nature of a consumer's title should be required. It was decided that inquiries be made of the State Advances Department as to certain titles. With regard to the revision of charges to be considered by the board in Febr,u ary, Mr. Riddle proposed that a reduction of one-third be made. While the present charges might compare very fav ourably with those of other boards, they were, he thought, out of proportion to the purchasing power of the district. If the charges were reduced by a third, there would be a very large increase in consumption. He suggested that a canvass of the district be made in order to ascertain what the response to such a decrease would probably be. Mr. R. Boddy suggested that, in addition, a schedule be prepared showing the revenue from the present consumers at the present charges and what would be derived if the charges were lowered. It was decided that a canvass be made to ascertain what increase in demand might be secured by a lower scale, and . that two-thirds of the present charges be the tentative rate for the purpose of the canvass. The engineer-manager reported that the plant in the powerhouse had been running satisfactorily. Ten new consumers had been connected and addi- 1 tional apparatus put into service. An account for interest amounting to £llOO . was passed for payment. The manager said this was the first paid out of revenue.