POWER CHARGES.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 14728, 5 August 1921, Page 3

POWER CHARGES.

DISCUSSION BY BOARD.

PRESENT BASIS CRITICISED.

THAMES VALLEY HANDICAPPED.

“The present system of charging by the Public Works Department to the Electric Power Boards for the power that they use is wrong,” said Mr Gauvain at the meeting of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board on Tuesday last. This remai'k was by the Public Works Department’s action ip connection with the proposal of the Board that they should tap the proposed main line from Hora Hora, so as to serve the Maungatautari area. The position, stated the chairman, Mr. F. M. Strange, was absurd. The Department had to erect the line, and therefore would have to pay for it, in any case. Why should the Board, because it desired to take a little current from that line, and thus save the expense of erecting another line, be asked to pay a rental? He thought that the Board should enter a strong protest against the proposed rental. The Board took a line to the boundary of the Te Awamutu Board’s district from the Hora Hora station, free of charge. The position, said Mr. Gauvain, was a somewhat difficult one. From £7O to £IOO per year was to be paid by the Central Power Board as a rental for the use of the line as far as Hamilton, which had been tapped to serve Matangi. He did not approve of this at all.

The chairman said that the Department intended to run a line through to Auckland, and proposed to charge the Auckland people the same price as the Thames Valley Board.

The position, said Mr. Gauvain, required the most careful consideration. The Public Works Department was at present charging the power boards throughout New Zealand a uniform rate. This was most unfair. If it cost 50 per cent- more to produce power at Lake Coleridge than it did at Hora Hora, why should the purchasers of the Hora Hora power pay the same rate as the users of the Coleridge power? Places that were favoured geographically, si or Id he given the advantage of low prices. The idea was not by any means new. It was at present .in operation in parts of Canada, and before long it must come into operation in New Zealand. He could not see why tbc people in the Thames Valley should be made to pay. high rates, in order to support any other line or lines. He. advocated that the matter should be put before the South Auckland Associated Power Boards’ League. He was certain that the Thames Valley. Power Board, which was at present paying £lO per unit, should be paying only about £3 10/-. The rate should be easier at Waihou than at Waikino, and easier again at Hora Hora. These were the three stations from which the Department would supply the Thames Valley Board with current. He suggested that a remit be put before the South Auckland League. He would be seeing the Chief Electrical Engineer, Mr. L. Birks, in a few days, and would confer with him regarding 1 the matter of a rental charge of the line through Maungatautari.

Mr. F. H. Claxton suggested that Mr. Gauvain should prepare a remit, which should be put before the Soutl Auckland Associated Power Boards’ League at its next meeting. Mr. Gauvain agreed to Mr. Claxt(on’s suggestion.