South Taranaki News

Taranaki Daily News, 29 July 1929, Page 6

South Taranaki News

DAILY NEWS OFFICE: Morrissey’s Buildings, Union Street, Hawera, P.O. Box No. 133, Hawera. Telephone No. 2706, Hawera

SOUTH TARANAKI POWER

MR. L. A. TAYLOR’S ADDRESS DISCUSSION AT AUROA. PROBLEM ’OF RETICULATION. An address on electric power questions was delivered at Auroa on Satuiday evening by Mr. L. A. Taylor, secretary of the recently-formed Ratepayers’ Association. There was a good attendance of residents. Mr. A. C. Johnstone was voted to the chair. There were also present Messrs. J. B. Murdoch and E. Long,’ members of the South Taranaki Power Board. The problem of reticulating the Auroa area figured .largely in the discussion at the conclusion of the address. Mr. Taylor said he disclaimed infallibility on the matter of power boards or power companies. It was admitted that Waimate West was in a peculiar position in that it was not enjoying, the benefits of electric lighting. Electiicity was a great benefit and, speaking f<v himself, he wished everyone could enjoy the benefit. Mr. Taylor traced on a map the unreticulated areas and said that the question wafi when it could be supplied with power. As the matter stood at present it was for the Power Board or the company to reticulate Waimate West. He did not think there was any possibility of this area going into the Tariki area.

* A voice: I hope not. Mr. Taylor said it was not within reason to go without power. -The district would with certainty get power either from the board' or the company. Before the area could be put into Tariki two-thirds of the ratepayers would have to petition the Governor-General and the matter would have to be reported on by departmental officers. The Tariki people would have to carry a line from beyond Kaponga —a distance of seven miles-— which would be too unprofitable and hardly likely to receive official endorsement. Nor* would the ratepayers want to go into the Tariki area, added Mr. Tayloi.

’ IF LOAN WERE REJECTED. ; The company had said that if the poll i were turned down it would apply for | a license to tome into Waimate West, i and in a few weeks the people would be enjoying electric light. The Power Board said' it was not possible for the company to obtain a license to reticulate the area. They said it was open to them to go to the Government for a license. The Government line would be through in 1931, and it seemed that if the loan proposals were carried and the board were compelled to rely on Government power it would not be more .than two years before power would be assured. It was for the people of Waimate West to say’whether they would make their properties liable for a- rate 01 whether their wants would be better supplied without. The total rateable) value of the board’s area was £0,000,900, and of this £2,000,000 was in Waimate West. The county would be responsible for one-third of the capital sum and j would take on a' liability of one-third i of £lBO,OOO in order to get a benefit of £20,000, which was to be expended in Waimate West. The company’s proposals committed the ratepayers to no expenditure whatever. “You may be lookimr for something better than the company has to offer and be prepared to carry the loan, if you can,” added Mr. Taylor. Referring to the services rendered by the company during the past 25 years,, Mr. Taylor claimed that in the past the consumers had been well served. At Otakcho Mr. Stevenson had said there was justification for the formation of the South Taranaki Power Board. He wished to assure them that the members of the Ratepayers’" Association were likewise sincere and actuated by the very best of motives. ‘ will bow to the will of the majority if the poll goes, against me,” he said, “but I don’t think that is the attitude of the board members.” There have been attempts to belittle, not.the opinions of the people who have written, but the people themselves.. should let it be a contest of principles.” It had been said that members of the board had threatened a withdrawal of business against those associating themselves with the ratepayers’ movement, but after all they had no axe to grind. It was the ratepayers who had to pay the piper and they should have some say in calling the tune.. The Powei Board-was a trustee and it was a. fundamental law of trusteeship that beneficiaries were entitled to the fullest knowledge.

OPERATIONS OF COMPANY. The company had been capitalised at £BO,OOO, and on that basis had been able to make a profit. Profit depended not so much on turnover as management. The board would commence with u capital of £lBO,OOO, and it was evident that this would warrant an increase of business. Mr. Bone’s figures showed that at the end of three years the board would be making a profit of only £l4OO. That estimate had been made, as far as Waimate West was concerned,, on the basis of 250 new consumers. lhey anticipated getting numerous ranges, water heaters, pumps, etc., and they would have to get an increased revenue of £2OOO. ~ Mr. Taylor pointed out the difficulty of increasing the sale of current as anticipated by the board. Electric ranges were almost unsaleable. The company had stocked a line but had been able to sell only two. He did not think the board would meet with much success in inducing people to instal a great many of these. He also thought the board was altogether too sanguine in thinking that 250 water heaters would be put in. The company at present had only 49 of these and there was little profit, if any, from the sal© of current for water heaters. Ho understood the heating of water by electricity was uneconomical. A charge of £5 a year was not going to give an efficient water-heating service—it would cost at least- £B—and the electric com-

“TOWN v. COUNTRY.”

panics said that at that figure it scarcely paid. The board relied on oO waterP "’t£ of boards is that they have the habit of charging a flat rate declared Mr. Taylor, who characterised this principle as unsound. It ed to wastage. It was because the Haweia Electric Company had cut out that toim of wastage that it had been able to make a profit. Mr. Lamb had said that though the company was desirous of selling is energy it advised customers to mstal chip°heaters because they were so much cheaper. Heaters had the eflect of forcing up the peak load. The highest point in°power consumption recorded m thiee months was the basis of the charge for power supply, and if there were 2»0 heaters o-oing it would force up the peak load and the cost of the power. TO MEET THE DEFICIENCY. “We say the revenue will very likely be £2OOO less than the estimate, and £1460 is your estimated margin,” emphasised Mr. Taylor. To meet a loss the board would be able to put up the charges or levy a rate. The. actingehairman of the board viewed with complacency the fact that the Loans Board had cut down the amount to be borrowed bv £12,500. Mr. Taylor thought that would have a crippling effect on [he expansion of the board’s operations. He dealt at length with the unreticulated areas of the company, advancing as the reason for non-reticulation the sparse settleemnt along the route. Matapn settlers desired power and the company had sent them to the board with a proposal that if the ratepayers would J*y for the poles and lines they would supply the power, but the board had, in effect, said, .“No, you cannot have power until we give it to ypu.” The board had also refused to sanction a Fraser Road settler, near the Tariki boundary, erecting poles to be supplied by Tariki. Mr. Taylor characterised this as a dog in the manger attitude. The only "other area not reticulated was Ohawe, where' the people did not want light as their places were only summer residences. Replying to Mr. Long’s view that the Rower Board members would be able to conduct their affairs with the same suc- | cess as they conducted their dairy comI panies, Mr. Taylor considered the position was not analogous. Farmers had a proprietary interest in dairy companies, but members of the Foyer Board | would have no proprietary interest in ! the Power Board. “Mr. Long admitted j he knew nothing of electrical matters. I He attempted to belittle my knowledge I and said he knew nothing, and I knew I nothing,” added Mr. Taylor, j Mr. Long: I assumed that.

Mr. Taylor deprecated the raising of the issue* “town v. country.” He had no thought of such a conflict when he went to the Ratepayers’ Association meeting. If Mir. Cameron had raised the issue Mr. Stevenson had replied just as vigorously. Statistics showed that the more closely settled the district the cheaper could power’ be supplied. He contended the charges by the company compared very favourably with the charges made by boards established by Mr. Overton. The chairman had suggested the charges could be lowered, but that again was a visionary hope which would not be realised. The attitude of the people of Hawera was that they would be pleased for any board or company to reticulate the country areas and not raise an extra charge. The com- . parison of the average price per unit in blew Zealand and the price per unit of the Hawera company was not at all possible, and the experts at the arbitra-. tion proceedings had admitted as much, owing to the varying circumstances. He pointed out how* a number of waterheaters at a low rate would make an apparent reduction in charge per unit compared with the company, which had kept this class of load off its books and sold.most of its power at higher raves. Since 1922 the prices charged by the company had been on the down grade and the monopoly would be no greater in the future than it had been in the Questions were inyited. Mr. J. Caldwell proceeded to point out that there were 2892 ratgwyers in the Power. Board district and that the loan . liability would amount to about 7.14 d in the £1 on the rateable value. This would be in the vicinity of. £1 per acre. He was sure the value of power to the settlers would be more than that. He legietted that the Ratepayers’ Association did not have the courage, of its convictions to come out in the .open before Mr. Bone left for the Old Country. He took exception to Mr. Taylor’s.remarks regarding Maori ratepayers. If the Maoris were willing to pay for light why should they not have it?

NEW' PAYING LINES. In regard to new lines paying, Mr. Caldwell said that on six miles of Skeet Road there were 28 suppliers whose revenue he estimated at £lO3 per mile. He explained in regard to the Matapu settlers that the company wanted such a guarantee that the price was prohibitive. They would have some say in electing the Power Board, but if there were any complaint against a company the letter was “received.” Mr. J. Green said that on Auroa Road there were 30 ratepayers, and he considered there would be good revenue from the road. He thought they would derive more benefit from ft power board than a private company. The board was formed of capable men. Mr. A. N. Brown asked Mr. Taylor to state how much money they would be in pocket if the Power Board had stated when the company did. Mr. Taylor: That is a useless question. I can’t answer that. Mr. A. K. North said that if the company had received interest on its money for all time since its formation it wouia have received £200.000 for its plant and asset©. Mr. J. B. Murdoch said the company did show a loss for eight years, but since then it had returned profits going up to as much as 20 per cent. Mr, North; Mr, Murdoch is right in stating that 20 per cent, was paid on the original capital, but against this have to be taken into account so many Mr.' E. Long, in apologising for the absence of Mr. Stevenson, said _the latter

had been misrepresented. Mi'- Stevenson had said he wanted to get out of the present company, but if there was no other way out he would join Tariki. Mr. Long said: “I said that in regard to the technical part I knew about as much as Mr. Taylor—and that was. nothing. I still stick to that. But in regard to knowledge of the business side, what I had gained had been from practical men.” Mr. Long referred to the opposition in the early days to co-oper-ative dairying. He considered what could be done in dairying could be done with electric power, and they could make profits for themselves. He considered the reduction of the amount of the loan by the Loans Board was the biggest compliment they could pay to the Power Board. Whether it was a company or a board they had to have directors. The former had 80 shareholders to select from; the latter 2900 ratepayers to choose from. “If I don’t do you justice kick me out and pick someone else," he added.

WHAT WAS MEETING FOR? Mr. Long said he did not know what the meeting had . been called for. The object was, he believed, to collect funds to get information. If they got 5s from every ratepayer it would be only £7OO. “It cost us several thousands to get information from experts for the board, he said. “Now you can have all this information from-the greatest experts for nothing. Why should you give 5s for it ? Where can vou get better evidence?” Mr. North: I don’t know whether they are going to get it for nothing. I don’t want all" the "ratepayers calling at my office for the next three months. Mr. Long: I don’t think there—will be. many five shillings collected in this room or any other room. Mr. J. B. Murdoch denied that members of the board had threatened to withdraw business from members of the Ratepayers’ Association. He also denied that the Power Board had prevented anyone joining Tariki, and said the Matapu people had never approached the Power Board for a contract for power. He thought Mr. Taylor had been misinformed, and he regarded as very unfair some of the statements made concerning the Power Board when there was absolutely no truth in them. There would be meetings later when all information would be given, and he hoped Mr. Taylor would be there to hear it. In reply Mr. Taylor said, in answer to Mr. Caldwell, that Mr. Bone's last article appeared on June 15. He went away on July 4 and their first meeting was on July 12. , He thought it was a poor board if it was a one man affair and the others were not competent to carry on the business. Referring to native ratepaj'ers, he said that the electric company had the same experience as other traders in giving natives credit. The company was prepared to come into this area to-morrow and had 200 h.p. available.

Replying to Mr. Long’s view, Mr. Taylor said several thousands had been spent in an attempt to fix the price they should give the electric company. That was a different thing to whether it should be purchased. A vote of thanks to Mr. Taylor was carried by acclamation. Mr. A. N. Brown proceeded to move a vote of confidence in the Power Board, hut the chairman considered that was unnecessary.

Mr. Bradford proposed that the meetin-. had every confidence in the PowerBoard, and Mr. Buxton moved that the settlers give all support possible to the hoard, but the chairman considered it unnecessary to put the motions to the meeting.

TROPHIES FOR HAWERA SHOW.

SILVER CUPS AND TEA SERVICE.

Two silver cups and a solid silver tea service were received by the Egmont A. and P. Association on Saturday for competition at its annual show. One large cup was donated by Messrs W. Weddol and Co., Ltd., London, as a challenge cup for the champion dairy Dull and two of his progeny, while the other, received from Messrs G. A. Wills, Ltd., Wellington, was for “the most points in the dairy section.” The silver tea service was received from Henry A. Lane and Co., Ltd., London, for the champion cow of any breed, purebred or otherwise, and is to be won outright. Messrs Weddel and Co. advised that their cup had been donated at the suggestion of several members of. the association who were interested in dairy factory companies. The firm realised that a challenge cup was needed for the champion dairy bull with two of his progeny, and accordingly the cup had been engraved for that class. The donors would be glad, therefore, if the association would accept the cup foi annual competition. They would aLo be pleased to pay for the engraving annually. “As I have met many members on this, the occasion of my second visit to the Dominion, my firm has decided to celebrate the event by offering a silver tea service to be won ouiUi/ht at your next show,” advised the icpresentative of Messrs Henry A. Lane and Co., Ltd., London. It was suggested that the prize should be allocated to the champion dairy cow of any breed, purebred or otherwise. Messrs G. A. Wills, Ltd., Wellington, wrote that they had donated a suitably engraved silver cup to the. association for the most points in dairy section. The cup was to be won three times, not necessarily in succession, before becoming the property of the winner.

EGMONT A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE.

At the monthly meeting of the executive of the Egmont A. and P. Association in Hawera on Saturday,. Mr. W. MeL’Dowie presided over an attendance of fourteen. A donation of fl Is was received from the Egmont Sheep Dog Trial Club in recognition of the association having allowed the club the use of hurdles for the recent trials.

It was decided, owing to a re-airange-ment of show dates in other centres, to hold the Hawera fixture on November 20 and 21. .... Results of the points prize competition in the pedigree pig sections at tho 'gmont, Stratford and New P ymouth shows were announced as follows: Berkshire: J. Pill, Hawera 3a, Stratford 20, New Plymouth 32, total 87; Hawera Hospital Farm, 2g 24, 31, 82; A. R. Gudopp, 19, 26, 10, 55. Tamvorth: F. Ogle, 54, 48, 74, 17& Large Whites. A. M. O’Sullivan, 32, 28, 38, 98. Mr. J. Forbes intimated that, should the association decide to hold a pony weight-guessing competition, he would be prepared $o donate a pony.

MUSICAL EXAMINATIONS.

HOY AL ACADEMY RESULTS. Successful candidates at the Royal Academy of Music written examinations held in Hawera on June 15 are as follow: — Local Centre Examinations. —Rudiments of Music: Audrey B. Betts (Miss A. Partridge), Mollie McKinnon (Misses Reilly), Barney Thomas (Miss A. Partrid"e)' ... „ <■ School Examinations. —Grammar of Music, Division 1: Janies Collins (Misses Reilly), Monda Collins (Misses Reilly). MINIATURE RIFLE SHOOTING. COMPETITIONS AT HAWERA. The Hawera Miniature Rifle Club has completed the first round for Mr. P. Petersen's junior trophy, the results being:—G. Gibson, score 68, handicap 1R total 69A; A. Thrush, 66 —3 —69; J. Clapham, 65 —3$ 68$; J. Tapp, 64—H — 6SA; E. Spavin, 60 —7J —67J; A. Booth. 58 —9 —67. At the conclusion of the second round on July 30, a one ten-round shoot will be held for Mr. F. Bourk’s trophy. The championship teams’ shoot has commenced and the first round should be concluded at an early date. GENERAL ITEMS. The natural beauty of the Hawera Hospital Board's grounds has been enhanced by the addition of a number of native shrubs and ferns donated by Mr. J. G. Johnson, Fraser Road. Numerous rambles through dense bush were necessary before Mr. Johnson could obtain a suitable variety, but the plants were delivered to the hospital in first-class condition. An interesting illustrated lecture cm astronomy was given by the- Rev. B. Dudley, F.R.A.S., at Manaia on Friday evening. The lecturer told in simple words "of some of the marvels of the heavenly bodies, his remarks being emphasised by a great number of excellent lantern slides which made it easy _ to "rasp the facts described. Mr. Dudley will be invited to deliver a series ot lectures on astronomical subjects under the auspices of the W .E.A.

At the monthly meeting of tlie Hawera Women's Christian Temperance Union, Mrs. E. S. Emmitt presided over a good attendance. A short address was given by Pastor Dawes, it was decided to send for temperance charts for the public schools in the district, subscriptions being taken up at the meting for their purchase. Arrangements were made for seseial social evenings to be held in members’ homes during the next few weeks, when donations -will be received in aid of headquarters building fund in Wellington.

A farewell smoke concert will be tendered to Mr. (J. A. L. Smith at the Manaia Town Hall this evening. Tor the past three years Mr. Smith has been manager of the Manaia branch of the Bank of New Zealand, and m his official capacity, .as a bowler and as a private citizen, lie has been very popular. He will leave this week to take up a position as manager of the Tauranga branch. A euchre party and dance will be held in the Kapuni Hall to-morrow evening. PERSONAL. | A vote oT sympathy with the relatives of the late Mr. James Ash, Hawera, was carried at Saturday’s meetin'’' of the executive of the Egmont A.°and P. Association. The president, Mr. W. MeL’Dowie, referred to the good work done for the association by Mr. Ash. Mr. A. H. Messenger, head of the Government Publicity Department, visited Hawera .on Saturday cn route for New Plymouth. Mr. L. O. Hooker, who has been visiting the Wellington winter show, returned 0 to Hawera on Friday night. j HAWERA OPERA HOUSE TO-NIGHT. — DOI Bl.lf FEATURE I’ROJRAMME. Rex, king of. wild horses, again demonstrates his ability to outdo, many, human screen players in public approval by a really marvellous performance in. Universal’s thrilling production, "The Harvest of Hate,” which will be screened at the Opera House to-night. There is fascination in watching this almost human horse play his part. As lie went about delivering messages, fighting the villain in a burning cabin or racing over a hilltop, the audience breathlessly followed his every move. Jack lerrin, known through his numerous exploits in many other western pictures, enacts the part of the hero. Helen Foster, pretty and charming, is an ideal heroine. Her love scenes with Perrin are beautiful. Starlight, a beautiful horse- owned by Perrin, plays a prominent supporting role, and Tom Loudon makes a dastardly villain, ’ine Harvest of Hate” tells the story of a circus rider, forced to seek shelter alter running away from the attentions of the man who had bought, the circus. She finds a place to stay in the cabin of Jack Merritt, who protects her from her pursuers, wins her love and marries her. A special added attraction on the programme will be the Music Master Series, “Songs ot Ireland. The box plan for to-night is at Miss Blake s sweet shop.