HIGHER LIGHTING CHARGES

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1932, Page 3

HIGHER LIGHTING CHARGES

MANGATOKI MAN PROTESTS

SUGGESTION OF AMALGAMATION.

TARANAKI POWER BOARD ACTION

The Taranaki Power Board’s decision ,to increase the charge for electricity for lighting evoked a protest from Mr. J. P. Marx, Mangatoki, conveyed in a letter to the meeting of the board at Eltham yesterday. “Present conditions render it imperative,” he wrote, ‘‘that overhead .costs should, be reduced. The drastic cut in income forces economy on all of us, and it is absolutely essential some relief from tire high cost of services such as your board renders be made available to users of your commodity. It would appear that the time has arrived when the question of the incorporation of the several power boards into one central organisation should receive careful consideration, as under the present system we have a plethora of authorities in a small province like Taranaki. It should thus be possible to bring about a reduction in administrative costs and the costs of operation. I trust that your board will review its decision and take the view that the users of electric current cannot be subjected to increases in costs at the present time.” In moving that the letter be received, Mr. Marchant eaid that Mr. Marx was writing on a matter that he did not fully understand. The board was trying to get itself into a sound position. The only increase in charge was in lighting. A great number of the consumers were non-ratepayens and they were getting their light cheap at the expense of the ratepayers. This Mr. Marx would hardly assent to. He had written with good, intentions, but without sufficient information as to what the board was intending to dp. The amalgamation of power boards was impracticable, even if they considered it desirable.

Mr. Moss said that Mr. Marx had overlooked the fact that the charge of 6d. for light .was proposed in 1923 before any loan money was expended.’ At 7d it was a cheap rate in comparison with other, districts. Lighting .was the only charge that had been raised. The rates for milking motors and current for commercial purposes had. not been altered. The letter was received. The amended rates for electric current were adopted. , REPORT FROM ENGINEER. The engineer (Mr. B. H. Goldsmith) reported that the number of consumers on June 30 was 2169. Units generated during the month totalled 849,300. The largest daily output was 30,000 ■ units and- the maximum demand. 1728 k.w. Installations connected during the month were as follows, figures, for the corresponding period last year being given in parentheses: Motors 1 (6), lighting and heating (new), 6 (6); lighting and heating (additional), 9 (7).A dislocation of the north feeder area occurred in the evening of June. 16. .A storm of cyclonic nature caused .a considerable amount bf minor damage bn Kaimata Road, including the lifting out of a pole to.p pin insulator and the loosening of several' poles. -A number of services also were badly tangled. A haystack was drawn into the air and the hay scattered over a large area. Hay which hung on the wires wfts blown along to the insulators and had. to be removed by hand. On June 26 and 27 lightning storms in and arouiid Eltham area caused minor trouble, several meters and some street lamps being destroyed. During the replacing of bluegurn poles on Hastings Road it had been necessary, the engineer reported, to cut out the line on about 15 occasions. The only time -of day when this' was practicable, in country districts was between 1 p.m. and. 4 p.m., when, however, users of stoves might, be inconvenienced. „ All users of stoves who had telephones were therefore, notified, about .120 telephone messages having been necessary. 'Complaints concerning lack .of notification had been received from two consumers, but the engineer had called on . the other users of staves . and had found them not only satisfied but appreciative of the trouble taken to warn theiu. Poles had. to be replaced on several. other roads, and. if it was the .wish of the board to obviate complaints it would seem ?nec.es,sary either ■to send a man round beforehand or to do the. work at night,-which would be a more .expensive and less efficient method. , .

The Public Works Department wrote approving of the chairman’s honorarium of £75. The District Public . Trustee ' advised of the reduction of interest on oinking funds to 4 per cent.. Mr.. Mose considered that a. protect should be made against the reduction. He pointed out that this amounted to 22 per cent., whereas the reduction in the amount the board paid in interest was only 10 per cent. He thought that this was very unfair. Other speakers spoke in similar strain' and it was decided .to protest to. the' Public Trustee. '

The chief electrical engineer advised that iii . granting the. New Plymouth' Borough Council a license to supply North Egmpnt Hostel a clause covering the board’s requirements would be included. ■ •

Those present at the meeting were Messrs. H. G. Carman (chairman), M. J. Gennhoefer, C. Foreman, J. Dobson, N. H. Moss, H. J. Marchant and C. E. McGuinness.