Urgent Work Held Up Through Shortage of Staff

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIV, Issue 6108, 3 October 1947, Page 5

Urgent Work Held Up Through Shortage of Staff

POWER BOARD FACES DIFFICULTY.

The great amount of urgent work requiring attention caused considerable discussion at Wednesday night's meeting of the Cambridge Electric Power Board. The engineer, Mr H. C. Oaten, stated that work was mounting up as the result of staff shortages, and additional employees could not be secured unless accommodation was ,-provided for them. Although it may be some time before the position is easier, the board made a forward step on Wednesday night, when the action of the chairman, Mr Mervyn Wells and the secre-tary-manager, Mr P. M. Oliver in finalising arrangements for the erection of a house in Alpha Street was approved. It is hoped that the work on this dwelling which will be available for an additional troubleman, will be commenced almost immediately. In view of the work on hand, the board was not able to give very favourable consideration to a request from Mr R. G. Kidd, of Te Miro, for a supply of power to his house, which is in the Thames Valley Power Board's area. .Mr Kidd stated that his house had been wired for eight years, but the Thames Valley Board had not been in a position to connect him up. Realising the shortage? of labour, Mr Kidd offered to provide two men to assist with the work. The Thames Valley Board intimated that there would be no objection to the Cambridge Board supplying Mr Kidd. ■

The chairman, Mr Wells, said it was not likely that the Thames Valley Board would be reticulating Te Miro for a long while, The Cambridge board, however, was also very busy, and there were many people who had been waiting for power for a long time. » !

• "People pester me every day to have work carried out," said Mr Wells. *This man is not in our area, and we must be very chary of giving any extra work to the engineer, when he cannot meet up with the work already in hand."

On Mr Wells' recommendation, the hoard agreed to refer the matter tc the engineer for a report, taking into account the work at present requiring attention.

Before the board, also, was a letter on behalf of Mr F. M. Gardiner, of Coronation Road, Whitehall, requesting a completion of the line to supply his home and shearing shed. It was pointed out that the work had been on hand for two years, and there was not a great deal still to be done. "There -are 18 people who have been waiting for services of all sorts," said the engineer, Mr H.'C. Oaten, in explaining the delays. He explained •dangerous repairs which kept arising and needed immediate attention by the board's small staff. However he indicated that it would be possible zo complete Mr Gardiner's line • as soon as important jobs were completed at Leamington and Victoria Road. The work at Whitehall would probably take a fortnight and a start could be made at the end of next week.' No other work could be undertaken during that period. The engineer detailed several other

important Works requiring attention, and the board approved of the priority he suggested with Mr Gardiner's line to be done this month. The board's total connections now numbered 2346, which was an increase of six for £he month, stated the engineer in his report. He mentioned that supplies of concrete poles had* been manufactured and 50 29ft. and 30 33ft. poles had been delivered to Cambridge. Ironwork was almost out of stock, and until further supplies arrived, there would be delays to work on new seivices.

The chairman, Mr Mervyn'Wells, presided, and also present were Messrs J. W. Garland, R. Fisher, W. Moore, D. M. Bourke, B. N. Garland, H. A. Watkins, F. M. Oliver (secre-tary-manger) and H. C. Oaten (engineer).