POWER BOARD

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6572, 5 February 1925, Page 5

POWER BOARD

ORDINARY MEETING The ordinary meeting of the Thames Valley Powder Board was held on Tuesday. Present: Messrs F. H. Claxton (chairman), P. Grace, F. H. Flatt, W. E. G. Willey, G. Howie, J. Pohlen, J. W. McCoi’mick, J. Price, J. B. Thomas, Anderson, F. M. Strange, R. Sprague (manager), N. G. McLeod (engineer), and C. A. Arthur. The Public Works Department wrote promising careful consideration to the Board’s request for permission under section 15 of the Electric Power Board’s Act to erect five troublemen’s houses.

The resident engineer for the Public Works Department denied liability for an account for £l5O 19/7 for shifting power line near Kauaeranga river bridge at Thames.—Matter to be ireferred back to the Public Works engineer and failing satisfaction to a higher authority. A copy of a resolution passed by the Paeroa Borough Council on December 10th in reference to the nonconsumers’ rate was received. It was stated that the matter had already been dealt with. The Paeroa Fire Council wrote asking for a donation towards the funds of the Paeroa Fire Brigade.—Mr Flatt said that the Brigade collected two-thirds of their funds in the borough and they had been .refused assistance so far from no One but the Power Boarl. The business people contributed £BO and the. Borough £4O. The Power Board was in business at Paeroa and he would move that it contribute £5 towards the Brigade’s funds. The motion was seconded pro forma. The chairman said that a Fire Brigade should be supported wholly out of rates, in which case every business concern would pay a fair share. The motion was lost.

The secretary to the Electric Power Boards’ Association wrote stating that he had received from the N.Z. Electrical Traders’ Federation copies of a model form of general conditions of contract of which a copy was enclosed. The Federation desired that representatives of the executive meet representatives of the Federation some time in January.—Received. The Australian Mutual Provident Society forwarded coupons duly cancelled representing £2062 10/- for interest due on December Ist under loan. The Society’s cheque for £SOOO in exchange for Debenture No. 2 for that amount was received. Offers of loans were received from the Australian Mutual Provident Society to be repayable and interest payable in Sydney free of exchange, term not less than 20 years (36E: years being preferable) and 1 per cent, sinking fund being required in every case. —The writers to be thanked for the offer and to be informed that the Board had no need of loan money at present. Mr George Toogood (Wellington) wrote offering to obtain a loan of £150,000 at 6 per cent, if the Board had not already arranged for the amount. —Money not needed. Notification was received of the industrial dispute to be heard at Auckland petween the Auckland Electrical Trades Union of workers and a number of firms and local bodies, includiny the Thames Valley Power Board. The chairman said that some of their employees were concerned (house insulators). Mr D. W. Wilson (Tatuanui) wrote asking if the Board had any intention of carrying the wires on Wilton’s road down to his place, and if so, what it would cost to put the wires to house and cow shed on his farm. —lnformation already supplied. Mr C. F. Johnston wrote stating that if the Board could not supply him with power between 2 a.m. and 6 p.m. for 9 hours a day he would ask the Board to extend the agreement with him for three months so that he could make arrangements for his own private installation. —The chairman said that Mr Johnston had merely been brought into line with other consumers and his request with regard to the extension of the period for the present agreement had been granted. If the Department would grant power at a rate permitting of Mr Johnston’s request being complied with this would be done.

Mr Arthur M. Wright (Te Poi) forwarded cheque for electric current less GO per cent, increase, which matter he was placing in the hands of his solicitor. —Received. The secretary of the Walton School Committee wrote asking permission to place sign boards warning motorists of their approach to the school, on the Power Board’s poles.—Refused. It was stated that the Piako

County Council would probably erec poles for the notices.

The secretary to the Kerepeehi rat .payers’ Association wrote for information about the non-consumers’ rate, and whether in the case of the escction of poles in side streets nonconsumers would have to bear the cost of the poles and erection.—lnformation supplied. Mr A. R. Vosper (Putaruru) wrote stating that he had contracted with the Board for electrical supply for £6 a year and the Board had broken the contract and demanded a 50 per cent, increase 10 months from the installation. Since then another 10 per cent, had been put on which he absoi lutely refused to pay.—Dealt with by the manager. A British Columbia lumber company advised that regular mercantile Fir would be on a 17 dollar base for January-February loading. The chairman said that this information, was no guide to the Board. The Registrar of the Canterbury College replying to the Board’s proposals re the training of students, stated that the committee was favourably disposed towards the proposal to take one engineering graduate annually for practical experience, and had the matter under consideration. In the meantime the committee would be glad to know what remuneration the Board mould allow the students. The chairman said he had written to Mr Kissell asking that his Department should co-operate in the scheme, but so far no reply had been received.

The secretary to the Waikino School of Mines wrote asking to what extent the Board could be expected to assist in the classes on electrical engineering.—Left to the chairman, engineer and manager. With regard to the minimum rate the chairman said that all of the demands had gone out as every member of the Board would no doubt know. He referred to the effort that was being made to get the minimum rate reduced and said that if it was at all possible any reduction would be made retrospective. Replying to Mr Willey the chairman said that where a farm consisted of more than one section each must pay the rate. If they could make one rate over the whole farm suffice only one demand would be made.

Mr Willey said the ratepayers had been given to understand that two sections would be regarded as one farm. Would it not be as well to let them know that the Board had misconstrued the Act.

Mr Price said that they would have to endeavour to get an amendment of the law so that where a farm is worked as one it would be treated as one section. The same thing should apply in the town. If sections did not adjoin each should bear the rate.

The chairman said he would be pleased to have any suggestions which might, in the form of remits, be forwarded later to the Power Boards’ Conference.

Mr Flatt thought that a commiittee should obtain all the information which should be placed before the conference. He would move that the Finance Committee go into the whole question of preparing remits with a view to removing any anomalies in the Act.

This was seconded by Mr Strange and carried. On the motion of Mr Willey it was decided to insert a notice in the press pointing out that the rate was payable on each section, no matter how many sections a ratepayer had. Mr Willey referred to two accidents to transformers due to birds lighting on live wires, and suggested that insulated wires be used to avert this. The engineer said this matter was being attended to.

The following accounts were passed for payment: Power account, £10,707 7/8; loan account, £9155 19/7. Replying to Mr Flatt the chairman said the Board was receiving £SOOO a month from the loan fund, but the payments were getting easier. Mr Flatt: There will be transformers to pay for. The manager: They will not be here for three months. Mr Flatt thought they should not allow the statement by Mr Greenslade that the Board was losing £IOO a month to go unchallenged, and he would move that a statement be published by the manager showing the advantages derived by the settlers from the Board’s activities. He was referring more particularly to statements published in the Auckland Star and Herald. Mr Price said it was the Mayor of Paeroa that they should censure. Others merely repeated what he had said. Mr Flatt said there was no question of censuring anybody. What he

wanted was to have the Board put right.

The motion was carried. Mr Flatt moved that a return be presented to the Board showing the amount of money paid under accident policies by the Board, and the amount of claims on Insurance Companies. This was carried.