ELECTRIC POWER.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 14727, 4 August 1921, Page 5

ELECTRIC POWER.

THAMES VAJ.LEY BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Thames Valley Power Board was held at Te Aroha on Tuesday night. Present:-. Messrs F. M. Strange (chairman), P. Grace, F. H. Claxton, F. E. Flatt, J. Pohlen, J. W. Anderson, J. McCormick, J. Price, J.' B. Thomas, and C. A. Arthur. CORRESPONDENCE. The following correspondence; was dealt with: — A letter was received from the Crown Law Office, setting out the proposed details for the raising of the Board's loan of £350,000. ""• The chairman stated that all details had been attended to, prior to the receipt of the letter. , . The Minister of Finance wrote, stating that the Government had decided to give a State guarantee to the Board's £350,000 loan. The chairman remarked that all the preliminary arrangements would have to be made before the guarantee would be given. l

Several formal resolutions with regard to the loan were carried unanimously.. ■•

SETTLER'S INQUIRIES

A letter was receieved from a Netherton ratepayer, asking \vhen power would be available for the Netherton district. •

Mr. J. Price suggested that inquiries of this nature should be referred to the local members, for them to answer. This would relieve ' the secretary of much work.

Mr. Flatt objected, on the ground that the individual members' replied might be misconstrued.

COMPENSATION

A letter was received from a settler, asking if, after the Board's lines had been erected on private property, and any wires fell, causing accidents or fatalities among stock, the Board would compensate the owners for losses sustained.

Mr. McLeod, engineer to tho Board, thought that the Board was liable, and • remarked that, so sure was he on this point, that he had told several farmers that the Board would, compensate them for any losses sustained in this manner.

It was decided to reply that the Board was not sure how they Avere placed in this matter, but that when they had arrived at a definite conclusion they would communicate with the writer. ' • / CHARGES. • Mr. Dalrymple, of Hungahunga, 1 wrote protesting against the proposed rates charged for power for use on farms. The system was most unfair. A farmer with a herd of 50 cows, each producing 3501 b of butter fat, would pay more than twice the charges that a man whose herd of 50 averaged only 1501 b. Thus, thrf basis of rating on the average production of butter-fat was ,a most unequal one. ;

The letter was received ROADS.

A letter was received from the Ohinemuri County Council,, stating that, before the Board continued carting over the roads in the county, they wished to confer with the Board, and arrive at some agreement as to repairs on any roads damaged by the heavy traffic of the Board's lorries.

After some discussion it was decided that the secretary should write the Council, stating that the Board Avould give the desired undertaking. POLES. The owners of the Louis Theriault wrote regarding the charter of thenvessel for the, purpose of conveying a further load of poles from Newcastle to New Zealand.' The poles would be delivered at Kopu for £1250. It was pointed out that the last cargo of poles cost £IOOO for carriage, and that the cost, of loading at Newcastle was some £250.

The members expressed themselves as entirely satisfied with the arrangement that, had been made.

TRAVELLING EXPENSES'.

The Public Works Department wrote, setting out the recentlygazetted regulations regarding the remuneration of members when engaged on the Board's business. Members expressed themselves as not too well satisfied with the new regulations, and it was resolved, after a short discussion, that the Minister should be, asked for an interpretation of certain points. " GENERAL.

Mr. Gouvain, enlarging Upon his report, stated that work" had been much hampered chiefly' by the Board's financial position. A number of alterations were being made, and they were stopping work on Bowler's Road until a number of gaps had been wired and linked up.

Mr. Flatt said he would like to see a little more work done in Paeroa.

Mr. Anderson considered that, compared with other districts, Paeroa was most fortunate.

Mr. Piatt said that he only wanted the Board to complete, the reticulation. He would then be quite satisfied.

The chairman said that, 'owing to the, financial position, the Finance

-• "'.o,' Committee had decided that thd number of gangs employed could not ' be increased. He would probably, ' ; within the'next three weeks, call a. special general meeting of the. Boards . to get authority to increase the num- ■.'j. her of gangs emploved.