P.B. POWER BOARD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19336, 28 May 1937, Page 6

P.B. POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING HELD LOAD SURVEY OF COAST DEPUTATION TO MINISTER The monthly mooting of the Poverty 13av Electric.* Power Board was held to-clay, with a substantial agenda awaiting consideration, one of the matters for discussion being the arrangement of a deputation to the Minister of Public Works, the lion. R. Semple, during Ids stay in flishorne.

Those present, were Messrs. F. R. Ball, chairman. 11. 11. He Costa. A. A. Fraser, Charles Matthews, C. \V". Izod. S. 11. Phillips, J. Tombleson. M. 1 • Trafford and C. E. Mills: the managingsecretary. Mr. R. P. Raigent. was in attendance on the meeting, tile engineer, Mr. F. Matthew,son, being absent on leave.

In connection with the Ministerial visit, the chairman stated that the board might ask Mr. Semple for authority to spend £IOO or £2OO in a contribution to a load survey ol the East Coast district, with a view to deciding whether there was a prospect that the extension of lines to that area would be self-supporting without involving exorbitant charges on consumers. The board also desired to secure permission to reduce the basis of guarantees from 17 per cent of the cost of lines, to 15 per cent. A short discussion took place on the two matters raised by the chairman, and the point was mentioned that the Minister had been reported as approving a Government grant of ESOO for the load survey. In regard to the reduction proposed in the basis of guarantees for country lines, the managing-secretary stated that inquiries had established that no reduction coudd be made, without new legislation. It was decided that the whole ooard should form tlio deputation to Mr. Semple. Lighting Charges A letter was received from Messrs. Fellies’, Limited, requesting a. reduction in lighting charges for current used in the new Neon clock, recently erected on the firm’s building.—The finance committee recommended that the firm should he advised that no special rate could he allowed at present, hut that the question of charges for this class of supply would he reviewed at a filler date.

Supporting the committee’s recommendation, the chairman pointed out that other clocks and trade signs on a similar basis would have lo he dealt with by the hoard.

On the recommendation of the finance committee, accounts amounting to .£8697 were passed for payment, from the power fund account.