POWER FOR OPUNAKE

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1934, Page 11

POWER FOR OPUNAKE

CONSUMPTION MAINTAINED. ARREARS BEING REDUCED. . The monthly meeting of the Opunake Power Board was held yesterday, when there were present Messrs. Goodwin (chairman), W. C. Green, A. J. Brennan,’ C. O. Edmonds and R. B. Fleming. The chairman congratulated Messrs. Brennan and Edmonds on being returned unopposed as representatives of the Opunake Town Board. The ratepayers were also to be congratulated on having returned men who had a keen grasp of the board’s affairs and whose shrewd commonsense, business ability and keen interest were appreciated by every member of the board. The treasurer (Mr. W. A. Sharp) in submitting a report on the revenue earned for the first four months of the current year stated that it did not quite give a fair comparison as the rearrangement necessary to read all the country meters first meant that about 200 consumers did not have accounts at the middle of August, as usual, but would have them at the beginning of the month. Last week three consumers were responsible for £l4O at the August reading. Revenue for the four, months, with that of last year in parentheses for comparison, was as follows: Lighting £2052 (£2006), stoves £373 (£379), milking power £6lB (£634), industrial power £3BB (£391), Water heaters £lB9 (£203), street lights £5l (£5l), penalties £4l (£63), total £3712, less rebates £362, nett £3350 (£3727), less rebates £362, net £3727). The net decrease was only £l5, arid assuming that meters not read were worth the same as last year the increase in revenue would be £125, which was very satisfactory. Cash received Was £773, against £784 for the same month last year. The total outstanding sundry debtors was £469, a very satisfactory decrease, because at the end of July the amount was £5BB, while at the same' time last year the total was £lll7. There Were eleven consumers with old arrears totalling £234, while other small ones totalled £4§, sb that the total of current arrears was only £lB7. Constant attention had been given to consumers in arrears, and two had been cut off for non-payment. . The new charges had come into, operation this month and the discount should be an added incentive to pay up to date promptly. Mr. A. J. Brennan complimented the secretary on the splendid position of the outstanding accounts. Mr. Fleming said it was a remarkable tribute ,to the persistency of the secretary that the outstanding accounts were being reduced despite the hard times. The engineer (Mr. D. Fraser) reported that the units generated during August totalled 142,000. ■ The Diesel engine ran 33 hours. Power was taken from New Plymouth on 22 days. For the same period last year the units generated were 145,700; the Diesel plant ran 18 hours, and bulk power was taken from New Plymouth five times. The power house plant ran without fault. A piece of wire was thrown across the high tension line near the Opunake School on August 26.- One end of the wire was in contact with one of the 6600 volt lines, the other end resting on the cross-arm, with the result that the 10ft. double circuit crossarm was burned off, necessitating the disconnection of power on the Opunake section while repairs were effected. Installations connected during the month were as follows, with the figures for the same period last year in parentheses: Lighting points 40 (39), heating 7 (4), stoves 2 (1), water heaters 1 (1), milking motors 3 (5), field pumps 1 (0), alterations 14 (16), reinspections 13 (31).

The secretary said he had received a telegram from the president of the Dominion Electric Power Association suggesting that he should wire the member of Parliament for the district protesting against the removal of electric ranges from the free Customs list. He had telegraphed Mr.. C. A. Wilkinson and had received a reply stating that the Government had decided to reinstate the old duty of 20 per cent, before the telegram was received. There might be a division on the matter, but the Government must carry the day. The chairman said that evidently the duty had been reimposed in order to encourage local industry. Mr. Fleming said it might not be economic to do so. The chairman said that would open up a wide discussion, and the matter was dropped. The secretary reported that he had written the chief engineer of the Public Works Department regarding the erosion Of the Waiau River, the possibility of damage to the board’s property, and the position of the Ijpard in the matter. So far no reply had been received. Replying to Mr. Edmonds the chairman said that a contract had been let for the erection of a fish ladder at the weir. Members stated that the delay had been caused by the plans not having been received back.