ELECTRIC POWER

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 25, Issue 3760, 25 May 1936, Page 5

ELECTRIC POWER

TE AWAMUTU POWER BOARD. SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. The seventeenth annual meeting of the Te Awamutu Electric Power Board was held on Friday, Mr D. McArthur (secretary-manager sinee the board s inception) presiding, and also present were Messrs J. T. Johnson, W. J. North, J. G. Sutherland, A. L. Storey, J. C. Montefiore, J. B. Teasdale, N. M. Lethbridge and S. C. Macky. Mr McArthur asked for nominations for the position of chairman, and Messrs Sutherland and Lethbridge nominated Mr Johnson for reelection. t , Mr Montefiore said he had verymuch pleasure in supporting the nomination, for Mr Johnson was able and conscientious, and carried out his duties in, a wonderful way. The town burgesses were, he was positive, more than satisfied with the way he conducted the Board’s affairs. Mr Johnson, who was returned unopposed, for the seventeenth successive term, said he was gratified. He was proud to have such capable and diligent associates, and trusted that the same harmonious relations would

continue. The chairman’s honorarium was fixed at £l32—the same as last year. The chairman presented his annual report (already published), and Mr Sutherland complimented him upon a very full and clear statement of the position. He was fully in accord with the recommendations in the report, as wise and beneficial to the enterprise. The reference to replacing present lines with heavier copper lines was the Board’s considered policy, and the time had arrived to make more changes, to relieve the congestion caused by increased demand. The . Board must continue to give the best service possible to its customers. Mr Macky added his congratulations Upon the splendid report. The Board must go ahead and make all

lines up-to-date. The annual report was then adopt-

ed. The Finance Committee is again to be constituted of the whole Board, with Mr Sutherland authorised to scrutinise and initial all accounts presented. Mr Sutherland was also elected deputy chairman.

MONTHLY MEETING.

At the conclusion of the annual meeting, the same members dealt with ordinary business. Notification was received from the Electric Power Supply Authorities’ Association that the annual conference will be held on Thursday and Friday. August 27th and 28th. The manager's letter to the local postmaster quoting a price for continuous lighting of the public telephone booths was approved. Letters to several customers who have allowed their accounts to accumulate, and threatening to disconnect the services, were approved. The secretary said he had written to several consumers, asking them, in the interests of public safety and to ensure a more reliable service to other users, to cut back trees that menace power lines passing their properties, and in most cases he had been

promised improvement. Mr McArthur presented a list of damage and inconvenience caused during recent storms. There was considerable loss of revenue, and very much inconvenience to other customers who had cut back trees in front of their properties. They were penalised through the negligence or thoughtlessness of other people. The Board placed on record its appreciation of the staff's work in maintaining and restoring services all over the district during and following the storms. The monthly reports of the inspector and electrical foreman were adopted, as also was the financial statement

Mr McArthur reported that the additional areas in Otorohanga and Raglan counties have now been gazetted, and the next step to be taken is to reticulate them as opportunity offers. Guarantees would now be sought from intending customers, but he doubted if supply could be given in time for the beginning of the new dairying season. To questions on the subject, the manager, said some intending customers are nine miles away from the present nearest point of supply. The Board would need additional quantities of copper wire. In one case a bouse had been erected, completely equipped for electricity, some time ago. The Board decided to give supply to that farmer as quickly as possible. It is dependent on loan money being available, and a poll of the ratepayers is necessary. The chairman said steps will immediately be taken to take the poll; the first step is to obtain guarantees, and then application will be made to the Loans Board for authority to raise the loan money. The two areas concerned are along the Kawhia Road south of Pirongia, and the Te PahuHarapepe district. A member commented that it depends largely on the farmers themselves what progress is made. If intending customers sign up the guarantees without avoidable delay the Board can give supply at a much earlier date. The fanners concerned have already intimated their desire for supply, and it would seem that the necessary guarantees should be forthcoming quickly. - After further discussion the manager was instructed to concentrate on the Te Pahu-Harapepe area. The secretary presented the annual • statement of accounts, and explained several of the items, so that when the estimates for the present year are considered at r. later meeting members would be fully informed. The chairman said he assumed that the Board was agreeable to the refund of the £4848 previously advanced from the power fund account to the loan account. He therefore gave formal notice to move that steps be taken to raise £lO,OOO, in two sums of £5OOO --the first would be applied to repaying the advance. It was stated that application must

be made to the Loans Board for perm’ssion to raise the loan. The ratepayers had previously authorised the raising of the loan. The terms of the big conversion loan last year had cancelled earlier authority given by the Loans Board, so fresh application now has to be made.

Mr Lethbridge, seconding, remarked that he "had been one of the Cinderellas of the Board for many years,” and he explained how the present service in his district is inadequate. The district is developing, and the power is supplied over galvanised wire. Copper wire would Improve the service. Personally he had suffered loss owing to the inadequate service, but had withheld criticism, knowing the position of the Board; now was the time to press for a better service. The manager, reporting on the negotiations for an improved service to the Waikeria Borstal Institution and neighbourhood, said the reconstruction would cost between £5OO and £6OO. He had been negotiating with the Waikeria authorities, but finality had not been reached. The better service entails provision for a 11,000 volt line, which was not contemplated when the earlier agreement was entered into.

Mr McArthur added that Korakonui district also needed a 11,000 valt. line as far as Mr I. Kerr’s property, from the Ngahape corner, at a cost of nearly £lOOO. It would, he added, cost less to supply Korakonui via the proposed Waikeria line of 11,000 volts. The P.W.D. was being asked to agree to this route.

Mr Sutherlarld commented that the best service was to run a heavier line from Settlers’ Road to Korakonui. Mr McArthur directed attention to a graph showing the demand for power from 1925 to the present year. Many of the lines are at present overloaded. The demand since April Ist had been the greatest in tljf history ot the Board.

To Mr Lethbridge, he said that better service to Korakonui was largely dependent upon the success of negotiations with Waikeria. Mr Lethbridge said he realised the position, and was fully in accord with the contention to make no further reductions in price until present srevice lines have been converted to Copper.