OBJECTION TO POWER RATE

Taranaki Daily News, 11 June 1930, Page 12

OBJECTION TO POWER RATE

WASTE POWER BEING USED. “ VI.OLATIN G RI • R AI. EVONGMICS.” Because lie had put in a water power milking plant a year before electric power was established Alfred Al. Allen, Inglewood, contended at the Eltham Court yesterday that it was unfair he should pay a rate for power which he was unable to use. He had installed a water heater using current amounting to over £7 per annum, and had electric light in his house. By using water power he had saved money going out of the country for benzine. Defendant had not made any application for relief under the hardship clauses, said Mr. J. L. Weir, who appeared for the Taranaki' Power Board in its claim for £ll Is 4d, the unpaid balance of the rate struck, William John Tristram, secretary to the power board, said that the rate struck against defendant for 1928-29 was £lB 17s 4d, of which £7 16s had been paid for current. The balance due was £ll Is 4d. Defendant stated that on November 1.9, 1929, he paid £6 6s Gd for current supplied prior to March 31, 1929. He had not been credited with this. The secretary pointed out that the books were balanced on March 31, and the sum of £6 6s Gd had been credited to the next year’s account. Defendant said that it was “violating the primary iaws of rural economics’’ to compel him to pay for power when he already had water power available on his place. He had been advised by Mr, Walter that he could obtain redress under the hardship clauses of the Act. The Magistrate: But you haven’t applied for remission under the hardship clauses. Defendant: I wrote to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Works. The Magistrate: If you feel you are unjustly treated you should go to the power board and if that is not satisfactory yon should go to Parliament. Any question of unfairness is for Parliament, not for me. You are simply wasting time in defending the action. Judgment will be given for £ll is 4d and costs £4 (is.

FLOWER SHOW PREPARATIONS. A meeting of the executive committee of the horticultural society was held on Monday evening. The sub-committees appointed to revise the schedule for the spring show submitted their reports, which were adopted. There is to be a new class in the daffodil section for unnamed and unclassified blooms, open to those who have not' yet won a first prize in the daffodil class at any show. There is also to be a new class open to girls under 17 years of age. for bowls and vases of narcissi and other flowers. It was decided to have schedules available at an early date. The date of the spring show was fixed for Saturday. September 27.

KING’S THEATRE, STRATFORD. “THRU DIFFERENT EYES.” “Thru Different Eyes," starring Mary Duncan, an all-dialogue production, is by far the greatest achievement to date in Fox Movietone, and sets a mark that will press future productions to approach. Warner Baxter and Edmund Lowe, well remembered for their marvellous performances in ■- “In Old Arizona,” first outdoor Fox Movietone production, are co-featured with Miss Duncan and again prove that they stand among the leaders of male actors In talking pictures. Miss Duncan has a particularly difficult role as Viola Man-, ning. a part calling for a triple characterisation. As the wife of Harvey Manning. on trial for the murder of his best friend, Jack Winfield, Miss Duncan first appears as the defence attorney visualises her; next, as seen by the district attorney, and finally, as she really is. Jt is a role that gives Miss Dunean full scope for her histrionic talents, and that she is successful was attested by the enthusiasm of last night’s audience at the King’s Theatre, Stratford.