ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19604, 5 April 1927, Page 11

ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES.

POWER BOARD PURCHASES. FEDERATION NOT FAVOURED. A proposal that a federation of electric power boards be formed for the purpose of purchasing electrical requirements at the lowest possible prices was advanced at a meeting of the Waitemata Power Board yesterday. Mr. J. McLeod, moving that a circular letter be sent to all power boards in the Dominion in support of the idea, expressed the view that a very substantial saving might be effected by a wholesale federation of boards purchasing their combined requirements. The motion was opposed by Mr. G. Trevithick, who doubted whether a federation as proposed would obtain material any cheaper than under the present arrangement. v Mr. S. E. Kennings said the board purchased its lamps, cables, poles and other requirements cheaper than did merchants and retailers in private business. He thought it would bo a great mistake to proceed with the motion. Mr. W. R. T. Leighton said the board's work had been carried out by the engineers under the estimates, and that was made possible partly because materials had been bought at low prices. Mr. E. C. Walton, who supported the motion, was of the opinion that lower prices could be obtained if merchants knew that big orders would be given by the associated power boards. It would encourage mass production. The motion was lost.