CHEAPER POWER THE AIM

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1934, Page 7

CHEAPER POWER THE AIM

INTENTION OF GOVERNMENT CONFERENCE OF AUTHORITIES. VERY LARGE SUM INVESTED. WORKING OFF PREVIOUS LOSS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Sept. 12. A conference of power boards and electrical supply authorities opened today. Mr. J. A. Nash presided. There were present the Prime Minister, Mr. G. W. Forbes, the Minister of Public Works, Mr. J. Bitchener, and the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. M. J. Savage. Mr. Forbes said the Government had invested £12,455,000 and the local authorities £20,400,000 in hydro-electricity in 16 years. An interesting thing was that the business was built up on sound lines and run most efficiently. The Dominion had passed through a period of depression in the last three years and this retarded progress, but business had not slipped back. He noticed a reference on the order paper about reducing the rate. It had always been the intention of the Government to supply the people of the country at the lowest possible rate without any intention of making profits above those required to meet depreciation and interest. After operating and making provision for these there remained £116,976, but there was a debt of accumulated losses of £576,000 they had to work off. He mentioned that the Waitaki Scheme would be coming in this year and would show a loss until it could get into full use. If the scheme was a business in which it was able to show a profit over and,.above these things, the policy of the Government would be to make reductions and give as cheap power as possible to the people. Mr. Bitchener expressed the opinion that the strength of the organisation would be in the way of larger power boards and supply authorities. He thought there were too many boards and that more co-operation among various authorities and districts would help to get further along the road than at present.