POWER BOARDS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18622, 18 July 1930, Page 11

POWER BOARDS.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE OPENED. By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, July 17. The , Power Boards’ Conference opened to-day. The president, Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., extended a welcome to the Hon. W. B. Taverner, Minister of Public Works,, and the Hon. S. G. Smith, Minister of Labour. Mr Nash remarked on the absence of legislation for two years, saying the remits carried at the annual conferences were of the utmost importance, and he hoped the Minister would be able to let them have an amendment to the Act during the present s ession. Mr Toogood, representing the Electrical Engineers’ Association, stressed the necessity for the setting up of a properly constituted approvals board. Mr Taverner, in his address, said he recognised the importance of hydroelectrical works to the Dominion, and promised to give complete consideration to any remits placed before him. He suggested that Although the legislative progress of the Association might be-slow, it would be sure, and its activities would not necessarily suffer because amendments might be a little delayed.

RESOLUTIONS OF CONFERENCE. By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, July 17. The following remits were carried at the annual conference of the Electric Power Boards Supply Authorities Association, which commenced to-day:— “That the Government be urged to grant authority to Power Boards and supply authorities to invest their depreciation funds and reserve funds in all trustee securities.” “That where the Commissioners of the depreciation fund deem it desirable to have a report, as provided under Section 26 of the Electric Power Boards Amendment Act 1927, the engineer appointed to make the report may be an officer of the Public Works Department.” “That the Government be requested to amend the Local Authorities Superannuation Act, so that a Power Board or supply authority can, if it so desires, subject to the consent of the Minister, provide for superannuation for its employees, either by way of endowment assurance or a saving fund.”

“That legislation be sought to definitely fix the last year before which objections to the availability rate must be made in writing.” “That in order to make it possible to extend the electrical service to those engaged in and connected with agricultural or pastoral pursuits in less densely populated districts, where otherwise such service would not be financially feasible, the Electric Power Boards Act be amended to provide for Government assistance being given in the form of a grant in aid up to the maximum amount of 50 per cent, of the capital cost of lines and secondary equipment.” “That the basis upon which the Government charges Power Boards for supply of electricity, namely £lO per k.v.a. for the first 200, becomes a penalty on smaller Boards, and this Conference urges the Government to alter its scale of charges so that smaller Boards shall not pay an average higher rate per k.v.a,. than the larger Boards.” It was stated that on an average smaller Boards paid a higher pro rata rate than larger Boards. Considering the difficulties confronting smaller Boards, it was thought that the principle of the charge was wrong, and that they should be relieved of the impost. The Conference discussed at some length the present method of the Public Works Department of charging supply authorities on peak load. It was decided to ask the Engineers’ Association to report on the question. The election of officers resulted:— President, Mr J. M. Nash, M.P. (reelected) ; executive, Messrs G. A. Monk (Horowhenua), R. S. Chadwick (Dannevirke), W. J. Holdsworth (Auckland), A. W. Rodger (Southland), J. W. Kershaw (Wairarapa), A. J. McCurdy (Hutt Valley), J. Kennedy (South Canterbury), A. C. Russell (Central Hawke’s Bay), F. W. Watt (Ashburton), J. T. Johnson (Te Awamutu), W. B. Galloway (Otago), M. Cable (representing North Island Supply Authorities), E. Hitchcock (representing South Island Supply Authorities), H. F. Toogood (representing the Engineers’ Association), S. P. Day (representing the Secretaries’ Committee) ; secretary, treasurer and legal adviser, Mr F. M. Martin.