WELFARE OF POWER BOARDS.

Putaruru Press, Volume V, Issue 175, 10 March 1927, Page 5

WELFARE OF POWER BOARDS.

SECRETARIES CONFER. A Comprehensive Report. In his report on the Conference of Secretaries to Power Boards, Mr. R. Sprague, at the meeting of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board last week, stated:— The conference was attended by 36 representatives of power bfcards, together with Mr. Kissell (Chief Electrical Engineer), Mr. N. Fraser (Government Statistician) and Mr. Toodgood (of the Engineers’ Association ). Advertising and Publicity.—This matter has been very fully discussed by the main conference held at Wellington in July of last year, and the special committee appointed, viz., Messrs. Kissell and Gibson, representing the Public Works Department, Messrs. Harbutt and Waters, the Power Boards Association, and Messrs. Fleming and Louchars, the Electrical Traders Association. This committee now recommends that an electrical development society should be formed, constituted by the Government supply authorities and the i electrical traders, for the purpose of organising and developing a national : electricity campaign. It is proposed to expend a sum not < exceeding £20,000, covering a period 1 of five years, to collecting of same to a be allocated as follows : Government two-fifths, supply authorities two- < fifths, electrical traders one-fifth. > The method of levying will be half t per cent, on the revenue of each supply authority, and the amounts will j vary from £5 to £175 per annum. I This arrangement has to be ap- \ proved yet by the Government and ) . supply authorities ■at the next annual s conference. \ It is further proposed to institute 2 a trade mark on the principle of the ( red seal system, which is operating in Canada and the United States. The < idea is, when any installation is ( completed, it will be branded with 2 *‘l the trade mark operating so that the _ consumer can be safeguarded and satisfied that he can use the installation with safety as far as purchasing any additional appliances, such as grills, ovens, washing machines, etc., which boils down to creating at standard in-the-size-of cables and other material which would be used on an installation, and at any time additionall'appliances could be put on the installation without causing interference with the existing supply. Depreciation and Reserves. —It is proposed to institute by Act of Par- ' liament or Regulations, a scale of f - depreciation and reserve funds that c will apply to power boards equitably, c so that a standardisation throughout \ the Dominion can operate. The re- ? serve fund really a provision for 1 wasting assets. Mr. Kissell stated 1 ‘that Mr. Gibson, accountant to the 1 Public Works Department, already - drafted a provisional Bill em- '• bodying these ' matters, and same 1 would be circulated to power boards 1 for their perusal in due course. Mr, Claxton (your late chairman) previ- 1 • ously brought the question of reserves up at a power boards conference and has had several interviews 1 with Mr. Gibson on the subject. Regulations. Mr. Kissel stated 1 that the new regulation would be ■ gazetted within two months and would be the means of defining the position, especially with regard to the P. and T. Department lines and the powers they are at present exercising. He further stated that the matter of inspection of installations had also been defined, and also the inspection by the department of power boards’ reticulation had caused the department to increase the number of inspectors, so that the standard of erection would be maintained ■throughout the Dominion. Meter-testing Charges. This is provided for in the new regulations, and the charge is 10s if the meter is found correct, and if incorrect no charge is made and the account for electricity .is adjusted for one month. If the consumers are not satisfied with the boards’ testing they now have the .option of applying to the Public Works Department as arbitrator, the consumers to pay all costs entailed. Guarantees for Extensions. —This is also amended to the new regulations. The maximum that can now .apply is 18 per cent, on the cost. This is a reduction and is not at all favourable to the power boards. There ' are quite a number of opinions to be • received from Mr. Martin, the power -■* boards’ solicitor, who was unable to be present at the conference. . Quite a lengthy paper on metering in country districts was read by Mr. Campbell, of the Southland Power Board, and after hearing the diffir culties experienced by this board in * metering country districts I consider

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that the method of flat rate charging as operated by my board is more satisfactory. It is intended to ask the Government to prepare a film depicting the features of electrical development in New Zealand, the contents of which would be as follow : Sources of development, the application of electricity to dairying, the industrial use of electricity, and so on. This should be educational both in the Dominion and abroad. Mr. M. Fraser, the Government Statistician, has agreed to mark on any board map supplied the population of the different areas. I am arranging to forward a map of this board’s territory so that same can be marked. At the conclusion Mr. Sprague was thanked for his comprehensive report.