CHANGING OF MOTORS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19510, 14 December 1926, Page 16

CHANGING OF MOTORS.

POSITION AT DEVONPORT. COMMITTEE TC> INVESTIGATE, 1 The question. whether the alteration of certain electric motoru used for commercial purposes at Devonport should be carried out at the expense of the owners or the WaitemaFa Power Board was further .discussed at a meeting of the board yesterday. It,' was stated that in the first section of the borough to bo supplied by the board there were only three motors requiring' to be changed, but it was maintained that hardship would be involved if the owners were required to stand the cost of their replacement by alternating motors. :

The board's solicitors, itii a report, stated that under amending legislation of 1920 a consumer was prevented from obtaining compensation from a power board or local authority for just such an expense as that involved/ at Devonport. This opinion was supported by other authorities who were quoted. The question was then raised whether each case could not be dealt with on its merits ind an amicable adjustment made with the owners.' On the motion of Mr. T. Lamont a previous resolution, whereby the board declined io accept responsibility for payment in one case which had come before it, was rescinded. Mr. M. E. Thompson then moved that each case be dealt with, on its own merits. The motion was seconded by Mr. Lamont. Mr. W. R. T. Leighton held that the motion was illegal in view of the solicitors' ruling , The Chairman said he was sure there would be no trouble from that point of view and the motion was carried.

A committee, consisting of tho chairman, the engineer, and Messrs. Lament and G. Trevithick, was appointed to investigate each case and recommend what course should be taken.