POWER FOR OPUNAKE

Taranaki Daily News, 10 May 1930, Page 11

POWER FOR OPUNAKE

MEETING OF THE BOARD,

RESTRICTION OF EXTENSIONS.

The. monthly meeting of the Opunake Power Board was held yesterday, all the, .members being present. ' The secretary (Mr. J. N. Stephenson) reported that revenue for the month bf March, 1930, was: Light and heat £390 14s". 4d., milking power £461 Os. 3d., industrial power £134 15s. 2d,, stoves £BO 25., street lights £l2 13s. 4d., water heaters £67 12s. 6d., penalties £l5 70s. 10d.; total, £1162 Bs.'sd. Revenue for the, year ending March 31,'1930, was £963 in excess of the pre-, vious' year, .and represented an increase of 8.5 pei* ' cent. The detailed return showed increased in all’ classes except industrial power, and the small decrease shown in that revenue was diie to plants driven by large industrial motors having ceased operations. The figures indicated that although very little new reticulation had been carried out, there had been increased use of electricity by existing consumers; a striking indication of the approach of an electrical era.

The past year’s working resulted in a profit of approximately £B6O, which is £3OO less than last year’s. Summarised figures were: — Expenditure.MPower purchase £939, generating station.- £839, distribution £1933, street lighting £23, management and general salaries £589, sundry £llO4, interest £6225; total £11,652. Income. —Sale of current £12,364, sundry £157; total, '£12,521. The board went into committee to discuss certain phrases of the report. On resuming, a resolution was con-: firmed setting up a sub-committee to wait on the New Plymouth Borough Council in connection witli securing some adjustment of .an account owing to the shortage of supply and inconvenience caused thereby. The report was adopted. OUTPUT OF POWER HOUSE. The engineer (Mr. D. Fraser) reported for the month of April that the units generated at the power station numbered 100,000. The maximum load of 390 k.w. was carried on April 12, the number of units generated on that date being 6650, the plant carrying the whole area for three days. The units generated for April bf last year were 106,000, the maximum load carried being 360 k.w., the whole area being supplied from the power station for 14 days. The decrease in units compared with the same month last year' was due solely to the dry weather, which had so greatly reduced the stream flow.

The chairman said that the additions had been carried out in a very workmanlike manner, and he invited members to inspect the improvements after the meeting. The report was adopted.

Mr. W. L. F. Chambers, secretary of the Opunake branch of the Farmers’ Union, forwarded a resolution pointing out the inconvenience caused to consumers of power through its being impossible to communicate by telephone with the board’s offices in the event of a break in the service occurring on Sundays and public holidays, aiid-•asking; if some arrangements could not be. made whereby the power house could be communicated with at all hours. 1 ', i The secretary stated that tlie 'matter had been before the board previously in an endeavour to improve the service. The New Plymouth line was connected through to Dr. -Watt when the telephone office was closed. He had interviewed Dr. Watt, who was prepared to send on any communications to the board, but there was a difficulty that the regulations would not permit of such an arrangement.

Mr. Tosland said the matter was a very important one, and he considered they should send a deputation to the postmaster. The chairman agreed that it was very necessary that consumers should be able to at once report any breakdown, and for that purpose there must be telephonic communication-all the time.. The board decided to approach the postal authorities in connection with having some means devised to overcome the difficulty. It was also decided to cooperate with the Farmers’ Union on the matter.. STOVES AND WATER HEATERS. When the board was dismissing applications for the extension of the reticulation some discussion took place as to the effect of stoves and water heaters. Mr. Green considered that the installation of stoves should not be encouraged until the board had ample power available. He did not know where the idea had arisen that the power for cooking was used at a different time, and therefore did not interfere with the power for milking. He considered that it was an erroneous one. It was fashionable in most farmhouses, as well as elsewhere, to have the hot meal in the evening, particularly during the hot weather, when there was likely to be a scarcity of power. As a result cooking was in vogue when the power was required for milking. That was not fair to the farmer, and unless they intended to run the scheme in the interests of householders they should certainly restrict any stove installations. , If a rate had to be struck to make up any deficiency the'farming community would have to pay the Bulk of it. Mr. Edmonds pointed out that the town of Opunake paid its share of the rate. Moreover, the townspeople when building new houses were canvassed to

'install stoves, and he therefore thought that it would be a hardship if they were to be restricted. ■ Mr. Green said he had no intention of interfering with the present users of stoves, nor, for that matter, with additional stoves being installed on lines already erected, but he would strongly oppose any extensions of reticulation being made, other than for lighting and milking purposes, until adequate power was available. Mr. Edmunds agreed that it was not advisable or economic under present conditions to do so, but ho did not think the board had any right to say that stoves already installed were a nuisance.,; • ’ It was stated that the board, had under consideration tho raising of ja loan to complete the 1 reticulation'. . Mr. Tosland moved that tile, prospective consumers be informed, that the board will accede to their request for the installation of light and power, subject to the approval of the engineer, it being understood that - the :■ extension must show’ a return of at least 10 per cent, on the cost. This was seconded by the chairman, and carried. The engineer was instructed to submit at the next meeting a report showing the amount of the current used by water heaters and the amount of revenue derived from them. He stated that his idea was not to cut out water heaters altogether, but to put them on a more satisfactory basis. The board was not in a position to give anything, away. The clerk stated that the revenue had totalled £663 for the year. Mr. Edmunds suggested that the report should include the time at which the current was used, whether at night or in the busy time.