POWER BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 20523, 27 June 1928, Page 11

POWER BOARD

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE BODY. The Power Board met yesterday, Mr W. Hinchey presiding over the following members: —Messrs C. A. Henderson, A. W. Rodger, D. J. Heenan, P. Arnott, A. A. MacGibbon, T. Golden, A. le H. Hoyles, T. A. Buckingham and W. H. Lusk. The Southland County Council wrote stating that the council had agreed to the application for an electric light to be installed on the pole at the railway crossing in Mandeville.—Referred to engineer for immediate action. The Southland Employers’ Association wrote asking for the board’s reasons for declining to become a subscriber to the association. The chairman said that he did not approve of local bodies joining such organizations which tended to shut the community up in water-tight compartments and prevented a desirable freedom in working conditions. It was explained that in the first instance the fee of £2l to link up with the association had frightened the board out of joining up. SECRETARY’S REPORT. The secretary (Mr Charles Campbell) reported as follows: FINANCE. Up to June 16 our shoowroom sales amounted to £B2B as against £824 for the same period last year. The amount still outstanding for the 1925-26 rate is £l,BOO as compared with £4,281 last year. The amount still outstanding for the 1926-27 rate is £2,384 as compared with £7,086 last year. Unpaid installation accounts are now £33,285, as compared with £63,960 last year. Cash receipts from electricity accounts are £18,023 as compared with £16,211 last year, while the advance payments are £5,389 this year, £5,773 last year. The overdraft is £58,163 as at this date. COMMISSIONER OF DEPRECIATION FUND. The board' is now required to make the appointment of the Commissioner of the Depreciation Fund. The provisions of the Act regarding this matter are as follows: (1) When the board has credited a depreci ation fund with the amount of the first charge made by it under the last preceding section it shall, save as provided in subsection three hereof, appoint three commissioners to be called depreciation fund commissioners, and thereupon sections 40, 41 and 44 of the Local Bodies’ Loans Act 1926 shall, with the necessary modifications, apply to such commissioners in like manner as if they were sinking fund commissioners appointed under the said section 40. (2) No member or employee of the board shall be appointed a commissioner under this section; and if any commissioner becomes a member or employee of the board he shall forthwith vacate his office as commissioner. (3) Notwithstanding anything in subsection one hereof, the board may appoint the public trustee to be the sole commissioner of the depreciation fund.— Decided to appoint the Public Trustee. NEW OFFICES.

Since the last meeting the matter of the heating of the new offices has reached finality. Tenders were invited by the architect (Mr Ford) and then, in conjunction with Mr Ford and the lowest tenderer. The agreed limit was outbid however. The object was to effect a saving. The final contract price is £450 which is the figure allowed by the architect in his specification. One or two matters of detail in connection with this work will be explanied to the board. Authority to execute the contract documents is necessary. We were able to make a good purchase of strong room doors in that we secured for the total sum of £lOO a 36in. opening John Tann with fire proof compound for the upstairs strong room, a 30in. Gibbons also with fire proof compound for the lower strong room and a locally manufactured plate door for the league room. This also, is the figure allowed for in the specification. It is expected that we will be asked to make a progress payment at an early date. The resolution of the board enabling progress payments to be made in conformity with the architect’s certificates issued from time to time is desired. Authority was granted.