NATIONAL RATE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19698, 2 August 1938, Page 7

NATIONAL RATE

CHARGES FOR POWER

POSSIBLE SHORTLY

GUARANTEE ABOLITION

MR, SEMPLE'S OPINION

(Var Prims Association.)

CHR'ISTCHURCH, this day

'Revision of electric power charges, with the .possibility of a national flat rate and the abolition of the guarantees- now required from consumer?, were -plans of the Government, said the "Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R., Semple, when he met the Banks Peainsula Electric Power Board at a conference this morning.

The Minister added that the reform of power charges was vitally necessary, but it could not be accomplished immediately because of the mass of investigation required. He proposed, however, to call a conference of power supply authorities to discuss the matter.

The problem of reviewing from a national point of view the power system had been worrying him ever since he became Minister. He was very concerned that about 30,000 people in 'the Dominion could not get power because of the high guarantees required. Changes in power supply matters could not be expected this year Information was now bein.-, gathered and, if the Government were returned at the end of the year, reorganisation would take place.

-My own view is that possibly vety shortly there will be a national flat rate for electricity, declared the Minister. "The burden of establishment costs had been overcome and tn country is now nearing the s age: wheie , h e rates could be: revised and Ihc question of abolishing me guaran.ee, discussed."