RECORD REVENUE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25214, 29 May 1945, Page 6

RECORD REVENUE

THE SALE OF POWER AUCKLAND BOARD SURPLUS OF OVER £157,000 "It will be noted that for the first time in the history of the undertaking the net revenue from sales of. current exceeds £'1,000,000," stated the report of the chairman, Mr S. J. Harbutt. at the annual meeting of the Auckland Electric-Power Board yesterday. It was true that tlio board had not been able to meet all the demands made, but it had tried to do so, and the chairman considered it had done the best possible for consumers and still keep within the restrictions and controls.

The surplus revenue for 1 the year was £157,312, Mr Harbutt continued, bringing the total credit in the appropriation account to £310,380. Total cash receipts from all sources were £1.500,000, involving the issue of over 000,000 receipts. Difficulties of Undertaking

"Wartime conditions and circumstances which we expected to become increasingly difficult have been reflected in almost every phase of our activities, making the operation of our undertaking at times very difficult to deal with," said Mr R. H. Hartley, general manager, in his annual report. Ihe principal effects had been to create delays. inconveniences, and substantial hardships in some instances. The electricity control orders had in the great majority of cases meant that very little could be done.

The increase in units sold in the year showed they were very considerably in excess of the quota allowance. Staffing problems were difficult, especially in the works side of the undertaking, and the stall had worked lung hours.

A matter important to the board was maintenance work, which was lulling hack very substantially. It meant added work after the war. In the building programme, there were unavoidable delays to the Newmarket building scheme and to the Quay Street distribution station. Reticulation and transmission systems had been dealt with on a strictly essential basis, with consequent limitation of the work done. Where street lighting was concerned, the whole of the city and surrounding suburbs called lor some added consideration, and the board was the correct authority to afford the assistance necessary, the report continued. The supply department had worked under difficulties, and had to resort to much improvisation. Its capabilities were hampered by transport facilities.

Details of Accounts "The accounts show that, after making the necessary provisions, the surplus ' for the year's working of £157,312 is | an increase of only £4213," the report i stated. The increase in the surplus for ; the previous year was £28,896. Revenue from supply showed an increase of £36,345, compared with the increase of £7.1.816, the total figures being £1,033,036, compared with £996,691 for the previous year. The additional revenue was mainly accounted for by increases in lighting, power, domestic supply and traction. There was a bis increase in lighting compared with the previous year, from £3191 to £13,261, accounted for by the lifting of blackout restrictions. Total revenue received on a unit sold basis for the year was .7681 d, compared with .7773 d for the previous year, the .slight decrease illustrating the restricted linage and a larger scale of units on the lower tariff scale. "The future task of the board and of all supply authorities is going to be very much more difficult than anything we have as yet experienced," the report concluded. "The demand of industries generally will be very great, and large capital expenditure will have to be made to meet them. It will be necessary to consider them in the of the genera! power supply'position, so as not to have capital lying idle for any longer period than is absolutely necessary."