POWER BOARD

Opunake Times, 12 July 1949, Page 3

POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING SERVICEMEN ASSISTED The monthly meeting' of .the Opunake Electric Power Board was held in the Board s Rooms on Friday, the Chairman, MrJ. S- Hickey presiding. 1 resent: Messrs. S. W. Hutchen, JS Tosland, W. C- Green, It. Cassie A. E- Collms, the eugiueer. Mr. W. M. E- Minims, Hie acting-secretary, Miss G. Geary, and the secretary, Mr. T. RBourke- An apology was received from Mr. W. A. Sheat, MP. Formal resolutions concerning the Housing Loan Amalgamation were passed. Mr. G. Bourke, Pihama, wrote requesting a ’ reduction in the charges for the installation of the service line to his property (A- H. Stevenson estate). It was agreed to write-off per cent on materials, reducing them to cost. The same concession would be granted Mr. J. Lourie, Pihama, provided the applicants were not eligible for any write-off of capital expenditure under rehabilitation,.

These two men are returned servicemen farmers and powei installations between their farms is over half a mile involving fairly heavy installation costs. The Board emphasised that the concession was made to MessrsBourke and Bonne as individuals, that any future cases would r,e dealt with on their merits and that similar concessions would not be made in the _ case of men settled with rehabilitation finance on farms gained in ballots. The Government, he under-

stood, equipped properties for rehabilitation settlement and they were then written down to 1942 values, said Mr. W. C. Green. All improvements were loaded on to the land which meant that their cost would be reduced by about 60 per cent. Only farms for which there had been a ballot were eligible for the write-off, said Mr. R. CassieIn cases such as the one the board was dealing with, where the men had arranged the deal themselves, any improvements were made at their own expense. Following a request through the Borough Council for che Board’s assistance with the installation of electrical appliances in the new Women’s Rest Room, the matter was left in die hands of the engineer. Supporting his remarks in his report concerning apparent laxity in the care of factory elec-

trical equipment, the Engineer read the detailed report of the • Chief Inspector covering • inspec- ■ tions of 13 dairy factories in the Board’s area, of which only 3 were satisfatory- Mr. Mirams informed the chairman and members that a detailed list of work required was forwarded to each factory with- suggestions concerning future maintenance. Mr. Cassie felt that, if or when the time was opportune, servicing of farmers shed motors should be considered by +he board, in the interests of production. The Engineer stated that an additional licensed wireman would be required and as the work could mostly only be handled in the off season, this was hardly warranted. The present staff could not attend to such work, other than that which was already handled. Accounts totalling £ 2240-6-2 were passed for payment. The annual reports (Chairman’s and Executive Officers) were read and adopted, and, estimates for .the current year were considered and approved.