WAIROA POWER BOARD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18192, 13 September 1933, Page 3

WAIROA POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING A RECORD SITTING (Herald Correspondent.) The VVairoa Power Hoard met on Monday, there being present Messrs. E. ill. Glendiiuiing, chairman, W. Tail, J. Corkill, G. C. Ormond, D. D. Pryde, M. It. Shaw, H. L. Darker, J. R. ’Gillespie, and It. Tapper, jun. The meeting opened with a well-defined tenseness born of the situation which has existed for some, time, and it proved a very lengthy one, lasting from 10 a.in. until after 7 p.m., and was at times very acrimonious. Considerable discussion took place on the motion for the confirmation of the minutes on a request by Mr. Marker for the addition of certain matter, which was eventually agreed to in a modified form, the chairman refusing to accept it as a finding by the committee. Mr. Kingi Winiata waited on the beard with regard to charges for current, and after discussion it was agreed to obtain a report. It was also agreed, on the suggestion u: tho secretary, to introduce the, index card system, and on the motion of Mr. Marker, seconded by Mr. Tapper, jun., the cards are to contain full particulars iff every installation iii the board’s area, tho secretary being empowered to have the work done as soon as possible and at the least expense to the board. After a long discussion in respect to the general state of the. board’s electrical system, it was moved by Mr. Harker and seconded by Mr. Tapper, that cards bo provided for every installation, showing any additions and charges, and to bo kept up-to-date. The motion was carried unanimously. It was also decided unanimously, on the. motion of Mr. Harker, seconded by Mr. Gillespie, to take steps to secure a report on each installation in the board’s district, an outsider being suggested, and to report to the secretary. The discussion was held to be in committee.

The local bodies’ amalgamation committee forwarded a resolution passed favoring amalgamation of the present local bodies into one body, and requesting the board to submit a resolution requesting that legislation be passed to enable a ballot of the ratepayers to be taken on the proposal. It was decided, on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr. Shaw, that legislation should bo sought to enable a poll to be taken over the county and borough in favor or otherwise of the amalgamation of all the Wairoa local bodies into one body. Messrs. Tapper, Corkill and Tait voted against the motion, as they were not in favor of amalgamating into only one body. Permission was accorded to Mr. C. To Kahika, of Mohaka, and Mr. D. H Robertson, of Ardkeeu, to erect telephone lines to their respective premises, on the usual conditions. Messrs. Sujnsbury and Sainsbury forwarded an agreement with Mr. F. Steed in regard to the extension of electrical supply to his property at Waiatai. The contract which was for five years at £35 per annum, was ratified. The Electric Power Boards’ Association notified that the conference of power boards and supply authorities would be held at Wellington on September 27. The chairman and several members thought it did not do, any good for the small boards to be represented, but Messrs. Corkill and Gillespie disagreed with this \iew. The chairman said that Mr. Kissell had stated that a proposal might be brought up to amalgamate all power boards under one commissioner, and it might suit Wairoa to bo represented with a view to supporting it. The chairman was authorised to appoint a delegate if lie thought fit. POWER SUPPLY QUESTION

The following report was read by the chairman on the power supply question :

“I have to advise that a committee meeting of the whole board was held on Wednesday, August 30, to receive and deal with a report from the chairman un his recent visit to Wellington to interview the Minister of Public Works in an endeavor to effect a satisfactory settlement of outstanding power accounts due by the board to tho department, in order to obviate tho threatened action by the Minister to cut off the power supply to the board after August 31 if the board did not comply with the conditions stipulated in his letter of May 4, 1933. The report stated:— 1 “I proceeded to Wellington as directed and interviewed the Minister on Augiust 26 and submitted the following offer on the board’s behalf:— “(1) That the board would levya rate over its distrjet to produce £2200 provided the Minister would agree to the collection of the rate being delayed until tho 1934-1935 financial year, and also allow the balances due to tho Public Works Department for hulk electricity accounts to stand over until such time as conditions in tho board’s district improved and additional revenue could be raised without inflicting undue hardship on the ratepayers in trie district. “(2) That to provide tho balance between the sum of £2200 and £3400 (the estimated annual loss in working) the board would reduce administration costs and effect economics in order to balance its income and expenditure account. “(3) That in tho event of the Minister agreeing bo the proposals to postpone tho collection of the rate for one year the buord wquld agree to the arrangement made between the Public Works Department aqd the board’s chief debentureholders for tho postponement of one year’s interest ohurgOß to allow the department to receive the whole of the hoard’s net income for the current year, and that after March 31, 1934, the 'board’s total net income should he divided pro rata, between tho department and the debenture-holders to their respective annual charges against the bqai'tl. “1 went very fully into the board’s position with the Minister and stressed the many difficulties and disadvantages under which it was operating and requested him to meet the position by acceding to the offer submitted. “After consultation with the chief electrical engineer and tlie chief accountant of the Public Works Department. the Minister intimated that lie would only agree to continue supply on the following terms: —That subject to arranging with the Public Trustee, the Government Life insurance Department and Dunedin City sinking fund commissioners for the postponement of payment of one year’s interest as from the September quarter, 1933, in place of as from last Marth as previously agreed to, the board may carry on:—(1) If payment of the bulk supply account for the June quarter, 1933, is made in full with a nominal penalty ol £10; (2) it the September quarter’s account is guaranteed in full by the due date; (3) that the board institutes reforms and economies as contained in its offer; (4) that the board immediately strikes and collects a rate to the extent of £2200 for the current year. “As the Minister definitely stated that he would not contino supply after August 31 unless the above conditions were complied with, 1 informed him that they would lie accepted subject to confirmation by the board on August 30.

“The only variations in the terms from those laid down by the Minister in his letter of May 4 last arc. as follows:—(1) That for the current yoai the department will only receive the net income for on-half year; (2) that for the year 1934-1935, the department would receive a larger proportion of net income than under the original proposals; (3) that instead of the sum of £2200 being raised partly by way of rale and partly by way of iuc teased charges it lias been agreed Ulna I this sum shall bo found wholly by way of rale. “J also requested the Minister in the event of the board not agreeing to carry out the terms of his amended proposals, and allowing the department to take over the control of the board’s district, whether he could arrange for continuity of electric supply to the district during the period of 2J days which must elapse before he could assume control. This he stated definitely he could not do, as the Power Board’s Act stood, as if he continued to give supply it would render steps taken by him to assume control invalid. “If my action is confirmed by the board it will be necessary to take immediate action towards levying the rate, as it will take some considerable time to comply with rating formalities. .If tho rate, is to lie levied partly by way of a uniform, ijitc pver the whole district and partly by way of a separate rate over the reticulated area, it will be first necessary to pass a special order defining the district, which will take one month, and separate rate demands will require to bo issued as the local bodies in the district have already issued their rate demands for the current year. “Tho committee resolved as follows: ‘(J) That the tentative agreement reached by the ohairman with the Minister of Public Works at the interview with tho latter at Wellington be confirmed, and that tho sum of £SBB, being the balance of bulk supply electricity account for tho June quarter, 1933, be passed for payment, plus the nominal penalty of £lO stipulated by the Minister; (2) that portion of tho estimated excess of expenditure over income of the board for the year ending March 31, 1934, be raised partly by way of a uniform rate over the whole district and partly by way of separate rates over defined portions of tho board’s district, including all properties within 10 chains of the board’s supply lines, and that a special meeting of tho board be held on September 11 to pass a special order defining such portions of the district.’ ”

Tho report was adopted, on tho motion of Mr. 'Pryde, seconded by Mr. Shaw, Mr. Corkill voting against it. In reply to Mr. Corkill, the chairman stated that in regard to the arrears the Public Works Department hoped to get back a portion out of the net income, as for that first period no iuterest would be payable. The position would be reviewed after the year. The chairman added that the department would not waive the 31 days’ notice, and if it took over it would take all the board’s assets.

Mr. Corkill did pot think they need fear a shut-dawn owing to the serious consequences of refusing supply to the borough, the hospital, and to people who always paid their way. It was decided to obtain tho opinion of the association’s solicitor on this point, the chairman and Messrs. Corkill and Chamberlain to draft the application. ECONOMY PROPOSALS* One section of the economy committee’s report was read dealing with proposed loan conversions and administrative. reforms, but the document was not released for publication. Mr. Corkill said he would oppose the holding of meetings bi-monthly, even though it involved a saving of £SO. It was agreed to ask ilie County Council's acceptance of the economies suggested in the report for one year. The engineer’s report was adopted. Mr. Harker moved, and Mr. Tapper seconded, that time-sheets be kept by all the employees of the board. The discussion drifted into tho realm of the former committee stage, but the motion was carried unanimously. Mr. Marker’s motion to ask tho department to state the probable cost of au inquiry into the state of tho board’s electrical supply system was unanimously carried. Mr. Marker strongly criticised the chairman for having, as lie alleged, withheld from the board the fact that a sum of £SOO per annum had been lost for 2) years by not having a certain instrument altered when the freezing works were destroyed by fire, the speaker also including the engineer in his criticism. The chairman strenuously denied that he knew the loss was £SOO per annum, or £1250 over the period stated; though he knew there might bo some loss, but lie had no idea till a few days ago that it was as stated. A subcommittee consisting of the chairman and Messrs. Ormond and Pryde was set up to deal with any matters that might arise out of the inspection of tho board’s electrical supply system, and to report to the board. THE RATING ISSUE The board then proceeded to hold a special meeting for the purpose of striking the rates required by the Public Works Department, there being two small camps, Messrs. Tapper and the chairman fighting to the last ditch to keep down the rate on tho outer area, and Messrs. Marker and Gillespie endeavoring to save the borough as much as possible. Three amendments by Messrs. Tapper and Glondinning were moved and lost and finally it was decided to strike a rate of on the county on a valuation of £3,574,295, l/16d on tho borough, oil a valuation of £740,305, and on the county reticulated area gd oil a valuation of £1,204,413, plus £d over the whole, area, Messrs. Corkill and Tapper voting against the mot (on. Tho rest of the hoard took little part seeing there was no escape from tho demands of the Public Works Department. The board then defined the several areas as defined by the Act.