KAITANGATA and THE OTAGO POWER BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21102, 12 August 1930, Page 14

KAITANGATA and THE OTAGO POWER BOARD.

TO THE EDITOR. Sip,-—I read with interest the letter of “Worker'' in your issue of August 7, I have neither lime nor inclination to enter into a newspaper controversy on the merits of the Otago Power Board, of which body I have, during the past six years, had the honour of being the local representative. Before the Otago Electrie Power Board was thought of, and when Kaitangata, as a raining centre, was in a most flourishing condition/ the mining company ■ found it necessary, in the interests of the industry, to increase the electrical generating plant at the mines. Before deciding on the size and capacity of the generating unit to be installed, the late Mr Lee, then managing director of the company, and who, I must; say without fear of contradiction, had the best interests of our town at heart,- made an offer, on most generous terms, to . our local Borough Council, to supply power, for lighting and other purposes,. Our worthy councillors, in their wisdom, saw fit at that time to turn down Mr Lee’s oner. A plant suitable solely for the requirements of the mines was then installed. At a later date, when several progressive councillors had been elected to direct the affairs, of the borough, the matter of a lighting and power supply for local requirements was discussed and fully, gone into. However, It was very soon found that any scheme of supply apart from cooperation with the coal company would pe very costly and altogether beyond the Mspurcep of the bojrmjgh, apd the Matter was allowed to drop- , ■ ~ • Somewhere about the beginning of the Great War an arrangement was come to between, the Borough Council and the company to provide street-lighting for the more closely-populated portion of the town. During war time the supply of. carbide necessary for acetylene gas lighting iq our local churches was almost unprocurable, and only at an almost prohibitive price was there a small supply available. A deputation from the several churches welted on the general raanager of the company (Mr-R. Iv?e, jun.). who, after going into the matter found he was able to/ give enough power for phurch lighting 00 Sunday pights. From this time on the requirements of the mines for the total power generated having eased off, a number of local residences were wired up and connected with the power lines from the mine, About this, time, pur local councillors, having approached the company oh the matter of lighting, were granted a limited supply of power at a reasonable cost, but without guarantee of continuity of supply, the company having prior right to all the power generated, if required, at the mines. In a very short time it was found the demand for power was beyond the limit , of supply, and a considerable number of prospective consumers were debarred from the privilege of having supply. , ' The demand for power for mining requirements having in the meantime increased, and there being no money available to,increase the size of the generating plant, together with the policy pt drift adopted by the Borough Council in that they made no attempt to co-operate with the company in the matter of increase of power available for distribution, it was deemed expedient by the ratepayers to join up with another source of supply, the Otago Electric Power Board, In. the original estimates of the board the sum of £25,000 was set aside for a power plant at or near Kaitangata, and I may also say no money was provided for a line between Port Chalmers and Palmerston, it being understood at the tinrn that supply would be taken from a Government source at or near Palmerston. However, matters did not materialise as planned. In the first place, the Govern-ment-Electrical Department laid down a policy. which prohibited the erection of stand-by plants, their idea being to take all supply from a central station with a view to keeping down capital cost. Secondly, the Government supply that was to have been available at Palmerston has not yet arrived, and it was necessary, in fairness to the northern ratepayers, that a high tension line be run from Port Chalmers. . In regard to street lighting, reference to the experts’ report will show that the cost of street-lighting has been extremely reasonable in view of the fact that the board is responsible for all maintenance, the renewal of lamps alone running into somewhere about £3OO per annum. On the matter of rating. 1 must say that I together with other ratepayers In the district, have been sadly disappointed, but the only consolation we have is we have something for our money. But there aye others not so fortunate, especially farmers in the back districts, who, on account of the prohibitive cost of running power lines to them, will be debarred from the benefits of electric power and lighting for years to come, and who, on account of the provisions of the Rating

Act, can claim no exemption from liability to rating. There is no need for me to go into details in this letter regarding the operations of the board, as the recent report of the experts gives a most comprehensive, statement of the past activities, and also outlines a future policy which it is be--1 lieved will put the financial position on a satisfactory basis, “Worker,” perhaps, knows how difficult it is to carry on when expenditure exceeds revenye, and the whole trend of the report is to show that revenue is short of requirements. The annual estimates of the board, although drawn up on a very conservative basis according to Governmentt departmental statistics, are most evidently too high for our district. However, it is hoped by giving effect to the recommendations of the experts, and practising strict economies, to be able in a reasonable time to show a more satisfactory state of affairs. I must disagree with the statement of “Worker” that Kaitangata has been shabbily treated, as he full well knows my interest in our town is such that, its interest must be my first consideration, although there is a danger with some people that a spirit of selfishness may crop up and obscure the view, with the result we forget we are all really dependent and interdependent one on the others. As far as the relative costs of power production are concerned, I am quite certain that with the, deposits of coal available in this district the odds are quite in favour of a steam, power plant, and with the object of having this established in Kaitangata I have, since I have occupied a seat on the board, lost no opportunity of putting forward a proposition which, I believe, would be in the best interests of the ratepayers as a whole, and at the same time supply a great, want in our midst, namely, the establishment of a permanent industry in our town, which would create a permanent demand for our product. With this end in view, I have bad authority given the board’s engineer to inquire regarding a certain generating plant for sale, with a view, should funds be available, to having it installed for supply of the southern district. However, this will be a matter of money, and should,, the scheme be favourably considered it will still be a matter for the ratepayers to supply the finance. I may say that all members of the board, together with, the executive officers, are out to consider the ratepayers’ interests, and if they have partly failed in their attempts it is not on account of inefficiency,, but on account of unforeseen difficulties inseparable, from- undertakings such as reticulation and distribution in a district such as ours. In conclusion, let me say that information is available at all times for ratepayers, but I am afraid “ Worker ’’ is like a good many more, and it is only when his pocket is affected that he takes an interest in matters, and in the interim is quite willing that others should shoulder the work" and have the worry. It has been my one complaint, While on the board, both before the Borough Council and at public functions, that ratepayers generally were very apathetic to public matters; in fact, only once have I been requested by ‘he council to submit proposals to the board. I I have made my position clear to Worker ’’ and others, and shall continue to do what I consider best in the interests of ratepayers generally.—l am, etc., _ , F. Carson. Kaitangata, August 9. ■