OTAGO ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 34

OTAGO ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

MEETING AT WAIKOUAITI. Residents of Waikouaiti and the surrounding district assembled in the Waikouaiti Borough Council Chambers on Saturday night to hear matters connected with the Otago Electric P ower Board’s scheme explained by Mr W. B. Steel and Mr A. P. Aldridge, secretary and engineer respectively to the board. Those present were evidently deeply interested in the proposals of the board, and listened with the greatest attention to all that was said. Messrs Steel and Aldridge placed the benefits of the scheme before their audience very lucidly, and their remarks and explanations were very well received. Those present were much in earnest over learning all they could of the scheme, and seemed to be disposed in favour of it. The visit of Messrs Steel and Aldridge was primarily paid in view of the loan poll to be taken on the 22nd inst., but was also made with the object of removing any wrong impression that might exist in the mind of anyone as to the aims and objects of the Otago Electric Power Board. Mr R. Templeton, Mayor of Waikouaiti, occupied the chair and explained the reason why the meeting had been called. lie said it was only natural that people who were going to pay money wanted to know what they were going to pay it for. Some did not know about the rates to be levied, and said they amounted to which was all wrong. He did not know that a rate would be levied at all. Any excess expenditure over revenue might be paid oui of local bodies ordinary funds. The board would, however, be empowered to rate up to lid, but- it did not follow the board would rate up to that or rate at all. It was a movement to better Otago generally. Mr Steel went at some length into an explanation of what the board proposed. That explanation, he said, was made because they were sometimes asked, ‘what is this Power Board?’’ Mr Steel went on to say that, knowing it would be some little time before the Government would be able to supply them with any money down this way, they considered the position, and a Bill was brought before Parliament. The measure had been adonted by Sir Joseph Ward, and passed by Parliament. The idea was that in those districts where the Government was not prepared to introduce hydro-electrical energy for power purposes boards might be formed and retail energy to their constituents. In Otago they had been battling over this question for a number of years. The project of getting power from Lake Hawea had proved too gigantic for them, and they had taken up a halfway position in the meantime. An Electric Power Board had been formed in Southland, and Dunedin was already well supplied. Certain districts bad been declared a Power Board by the originators of the present scheme. The most densely populated portions formed the inner area, and these would be first supplied. As for the guarantee for the borrowed money, only the people within the inner area supplied with power would be asked to accept responsibility. It was a foregone conclusion that if a community once got electric light and power it never went back on it, and everywhere the demand was greatly increasing. It had to be remembered that when any public body was rated as a local body, and that body went to the market for money, it must give the debenture holders a guarantee; therefore it- was essential that the ratepayers of a district should know that the matter rested upon them. The l|d in the £ might seem a fairly heavy hurdle, but it bad to be met, and the whole concern would be bringing in money before claims became due. They need not fear that any heavy charge was going to be made upon them to bridge the difference between revenue and expenditure. Mr Steel went on to refer to Lake Coleridge and Waipori, and said that the supplying of electric power was a very profitable business. Now the board brought its policy before the public and asked them to vote for the loan proposal. In a year or 18 months they would have their places lighted, and milking and other machines running by electrical energy. All that could lie done by co-operation. He commented on the fact that some persons of vivid imagination had been going about making statements that were very misleading. The installation of electric power would minimise their labours, and they would have a little more leisure time at their disposal.—(Loud applause.) Mr P. Briscoe, who is a member of the board, warmly supported the scheme, both in connection with power supply and household facilities. Mr A. P. Aldridge, engineer to the board said it was not bis intention to make ' a speech, but to answer questions. Speaking on the question as to_ whether there was enough power from AN aipori to supply what was required for the district be pointed out that the average flow of the river was 200 cubic feet per second, that, with a fall of 700 ft. would give delivery of 10,0-00 horse-power. So that if a big enough way were put in the river bed it meant that they could develop 10,000 horse-power continuously for 2A hours. He did not think the meeting need have any doubt about the supply from Waipori. What had occurred recently could not occur again. The fundamental principle was to equalise the cost as far as possible. The board would run to the boundary lino in such cases, and perhaps two or three chains inside ’ their boundary. Another point was what was (he charge for elec tricily going to be. They could not say exactly. Those present knew how difficult it was to draw up an equitable table in such circumstances. Power bad to be sup plied for different purposes. They could

not charge the same for cooking and for lighting. They could, however, charge what would compare more than favourably with coal. The charge must depend upon the time the supply was required. There were many considerations that made it very hard to strike a rate which would be ap pheable to every case. In certain parts they were going to charge the same as was charged in Milton, Mosgiel and Dunedin. In the country the rate would be considerably higher, but the board proposed to equalise the rate, and strike an average w-hereby everybody would pay the same. They would probably average about 6d per unit for light and Id to 2d for different classes of power. Replying to questions, Mr Aldridge said the only chance of reducing the charges would bo by the commodity being used to a greater extent —there w r as no chance of a shortage. In connection with running a three horse-power engine three hours a day the cost would depend very much on when the power was wanted If it was wanted at night it could be supplied for practically nothing. For a daily load the cost would be about 3s fid per week. As to taking a line half a mile off the road the cost depended on the power acquired. For a properly constructed line it would not cost more than £4O or £SO for half a mile ; the board supplying the poles and line. He added that in installing lights in houses the board would assist the customer financially if required. The board would give him time in which to make his payments. The board would be able to supply heating for hothouses pretty cheaply at night time, and the heating of dwellings was quite within the possibilities of the scheme, and could be done cheaply. Mr Steel having reminded those present that a vote on the loan proposal would be taken on Thursday next, the speaker and Messrs Aldridge and Briscoe were accorded a hearty vote of thanks for supplying the information they had, and the meeting terminated.