OTAGO POWER BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25800, 22 March 1945, Page 3

OTAGO POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Otago Electric Power Board, which was held at Milton on Tuesday, was attended by Messrs W. Cameron (chairman), W. Lee, T. A. Lowis, D. J. Ireland, J. B. McGill, J. R. Copland, A. Anderson, G. Moore, and R. H. Michelle. The chairman referred to the death of Mr D. Boyd, who had been a member of the board for some years. Messrs Lowis and Michelle also paid tribute to Mr Boyd, and a molion of sympathy with the relatives was carried. The financial statement showed that receipts for the month totalled £8702 13s (electricity £4484 11s 6d, sundry debtors £406 17s Bd, transfers loan account Ncs. 6 and 7 £3700).- Expenditure totalled £9397 5s Gd. Accounts amounting to £1792 3s 8d were passed for payment, In his report the engineer stated that a fair number of depreciated poles had been replaced with concrete poles. Extensive flooding in the Kaitangata-Paretai-Inch Clutha area was '.•sponsible for several interruptions whicn caused a considerable amount of temporary work, mostly emergency lighting for flood repairs. Permits issued during the month totalled 70, including 11 new installations and 59 extensions.

The engineer reported that, owing to pressure of other work, the survey of the proposed extension at Hina-Hina had not yet been made, but he hoped to carry this out within the next week or so.

The secretary reported that cn March 6 the engineer, Mr McGill, and himself had met those interested in the extension of the power supply at Moonlight, and after the position regarding guarantees', etc., had been fully explained those present decided "to wait until such time as legislation regarding assistance to consumers in sparsely-populated areas came into force, when they would again approach the board. A. McLaren, of Romahapa, wrote on behalf of two other residents and himself in regard to having a power supply installed. They were all within half a mile of the power line through Romahapa.—lt was agreed that the engineer and Mr Copland should inspect the area. Mr McGill mentioned that he had seen some accounts for wiring in his area, and he was of the opinion that they were exorbitant. In Gone case a charge of £77 had been made for 11 points, and another had been £BB.—The secretary explained that where consumers were having wiring done under a hire-purchase agreement with the board they should first submit estimates to the board for its approval, In the cases mentioned the work had been done and 'no details submitted to the office. He was making Inquiries into the cases.-—Mr McGill said he considered it was the duty of the board to see that the charges made by contractors were fair.—Mr Copland said that the board should have notice of work being done under these agreements in order to safeguard itself, and the secretary said this was required before the board held itself responsible for its share of the cost. It was decided to hold the next meeting cn April 24, a week later than the usual date.