THE WAITAKI ELECTRIC POWER BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22293, 20 June 1934, Page 8

THE WAITAKI ELECTRIC POWER BOARD

TO THE EDITOR. SiE, —At the last meeting of the Waitaki Power Board a question Was asked as to how many men were employed at the power house, and the chairman answ.ered “ three.” lam reliably informed that there are four men, as an extra man has been “ assisting " the storeengineer, who, it was said by the chairman’s supporters, was to do the storekeeping work easily in half an hour per day. But there is also an extra clerk now to do the store booking work, so that there are three employees engaged on the storekeeping work which was formerly done by one man in part time. Thus, the saving of that £292 reported as the reduction of salaries last year is now wiped out, the chairman’s boasted economy is shown to be valueless, and the secretary is saddled with an officer whom he does not require—a truly Gilbertian situation! The real economies were effected by the former board, as shown in my last letter, to the extent of £BOO to £9OO, and thq board is now benefiting by those economies, ■ but the present chairman, in striving to make good his promises, has taken surplus moneys to make up the loss due to his 2i per cent, and 5 per cent, extra discount, in spite of the great saving from reduced interest chargee compulsorily effected.

It is very interesting to remember that the popular five-year range terms, the specially-controlled water-heating at very low rates (stressed by the present chairman), and other advantages obtainable by our fortunate consumers were suggested by the former manager and adopted bv the former, board.

With the present dissipation of the small remaining surplus in the working account by running at a loss, and of the remaining capital by needless and useless store buildings,, and the now threatened costly office alterations, both a rate to meet losses and the raising of more money for real requirements ar* inevitable m the near future unless a change takes place and £he present chaotic system of spending is checked. Are our assets being kept wisely or dissipated? It is evidently a fact that the board is now in very truth a “one-man concern,” , the obedient party simply saying “Amen.”— I am, etc., SEARCHLIGHT.