LIGHTING OF STREETS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21114, 23 February 1932, Page 10

LIGHTING OF STREETS.

COST TO LOCAL BODIES.

POSITION IN AUCKLAND.

REPLY MADE TO CRITICISM.

In reply to a statement by Mr. S. Gray at a meeting of Mount Eden ratepayers that tho Auckland Power Board's charge, for street lighting was very much higher than that of any other local body in New Zealand, tho general manager, Mr. 11. 11. Bartlcy, placed a report before the board at its meeting yesterday. Mr. Gray said tho charge was £6 for a 100 candlepower lamp, instead of £3 15s, as it was elsewhere.

" Before any installation work was commenced, details and costs were submitted to tho various bodies concerned, including the Mount Eden Borough Council," said Mr. Bartley. " Tho scheme was carefully considered, the price agreed upon and we received instructions to proceed accordingly. To say the least of it, a comparison such as Air. Gray's is misleading." Tho street lighting charges for the various separate items, said Mr. Bartley, were as follows up to March 31 last: Annual charges on capital, such as mains, transformers, fittings and a proportion of plant charge, £23,000; attendance and repairs, and maintenance of fittings, standards and mains, £2125; lamp renewals, £2960; patrols and transport costs, £1125; cost of current supplied, £13,000; total, £42,210.

" Our net return from all street lighting is £43,496 after allowing the full range of discounts, which have increased to 15 per cent, since the street lighting system was inaugurated," Mr. Bartley continued. " This revenue yields a return of £7 15s a lamp, while our average net cost is £7 lis a lamp. These figures are sufficient proof of what the board is receiving from its street lighting system as a whole."

Mr. Bartley said ho was aware that, throughout tho Dominion, there was a big variation in tho annual amounts charged for street lighting. He had a complete schedule which showed the variation in the cost -,n a 100 candle-power lamp basis to bo from £4 15s to as low as £3, but, in most instances, somo extra sum had to be added to tho lower price if some particular condition were complied with. Before any reliable comparison could be made, figures representing the iten s lie had mentioned were necessary.

" Jt must be remembered," said Mr. Bartley, " that this board's system of street lighting is a much more costly one than may be found elsewhere, owing to tlip, particular type of fitting selected and the necessity for a very large proportion of the system to be underground. Finally, the work was undertaken with money costing very much more than it cost many other supply authorities in the Dominion."

Mr. Bartley said he had received a schedule of street lighting charges in Sydney, and the rates there were very similar to those fixed by the Auckland Power Board.