ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY.

Wairarapa Age, 15 June 1927, Page 2

ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY.

MEETING OF WAIRARAPA BOABD.

PROGRESS WITH WANGAEHUWERAITI LOANS.

The monthly meeting of the Wairarapa Power Board was held at Carterton yesterday, Mr J. W. Kershaw presiding. There were also present: Messrs T. V. Moore, W. A. Tate, W. Benton, A. Campbell Pearee, H. P. Hugo, R. J. King and D. McLachlan. Mr W. Howard Booth, who is away in Honolulu, was granted three months’ leave of absence. As the board insures to the advantage of the consumer an installation up to the amount of the unpaid balance, it was decided that in future it should be a condition in connection with financing consumers for installations that the consumer should pay the insurance premium.

Advice was received that exemption had been granted from the requirements of the Local Government Loans Board Act in respect to the Wangaehu loan of £2OOO and the Weraiti loan of £5OO. The Minister’s consent to the raising of the loans was now required. It was decided to strike a special rate of 3-16 d over the Wangaehu area and l-8d over the Weraiti area as security for this loans.

The Secretary-Manager reported that the installation department maintained steady progress, twenty-six new consumers being connected and thirty estimates accepted during May. Of the new installations, eighteen were in the northern area, and four each in the central and southern areas.

The Engineer reported that all poles, wires, transformers and, services on the Lake Ferry line had been erected and it was expected that the line would be livened on June 18. On three occasions during the month, Mangahao power failed and the Kourarau plant carried the load without interruption to the supply. On the motiop of Mr King, seconded by Mr Pearce, it was decided to purchase an American motor truck at a cost of £307.

The board, in committee, considered and adopted a proposal to reorganise the outside and inside staffs which would result in a considerable saving in wages and salaries. This action, it was pointed out, was deemed advisable as the construction work had been practically completed, and the board could now exist comfortably with a reasenably reduced maintenance staff.