SAME RATE FOR CURRENT

Taranaki Daily News, 26 July 1929, Page 11

SAME RATE FOR CURRENT

DISCOUNT TO SOME BOARDS DEPUTATION URGES UNIFORMITY. “CONCESSIONS NOT PERMANENT.” By Telegraph. —Press Association. Wellington, July 25. Agreement with the principle that all power boards should pay the same rate for supplies of current was expressed by Sir Joseph Ward to-day in replying to a .deputation which requested that the Waitemata and Franklin PowerBoards should receive the 5 per cent, discount at present enjoyed by the Central Thames Valley and Cambridge Boards. Sir Joseph «aid he would obtain from the Minister of Public Works a return showing the effect of the discount if applied to all boards in the Dominion. He agreed that all boards should be uniformly charged and would go into the matter with the view of bringing that about if possible. As far as he could judge there was no reason why there should be any discrimination. The Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Public Works, explained to the deputation that since he had been in office he had not signed any contracts giving preferential treatment to any boards, and did not intend to do so. Special concessions had been given, but- it was, never intended they should be permanent. He agreed that all boards should be placed on an equal footing in the matter of charges.

Mr. Coates pointed out that certain boards had been granted a rebate, but there had been a general understanding that, when the contracts were renewed, they would be renewed on the same terms as those -of the Waitemata and Franklin Boards.