POWER INSTALLATIONS.

Waipa Post, Volume XII, Issue 942, 15 May 1920, Page 4

POWER INSTALLATIONS.

BOARD DEFINES A POLICY.

ADVICE TO CONSUMERS

At yesterday's meeting if the Te

Awamutu Electric Power Board consideration was given to the nature of the installations to be made on farms and in business places for power purposes.

Dealing with policy matters generally, the chairman said the advice of the engineer was asked on the question of supplying motors for the use of consumers. The question pre-

sented itself whether it would be wise to allow consumers to purchase independently, installing whatever' make of motor was offered and without regard to the voltage of the reticulation. The engineer said, there was no gain to be made by standardising motors. There was so little to go wrong in the apparatus that there would be

little need,of an inter-change of parts

To fix on one machine would give a monopoly which would not be advantageous. The makers had to buy copper on a fluctuating market, and this

would mean that the standardised motor would be more costly than others offering at various periods. It would be quite reasonable to limit installations to three makes of motors, and the best procedure would be to map out the area into blocks. When the main transmission reached a Tilock, the consumers should be asked to authorise the Board to let a large contract over the whole their block. This would mean the supply of motors and the whole of the private wiring over an area, and by 'calling tenders for the work in this way contractors could work very much more cheaply than by individual installations. To let a contract to instal motors in all the milking sheds of an area or for wiring up a whole row of houses would obviate the necessity of contractors moving from place to place. Coming back to standardisation, it had to be remembered that each maker had an agency in New Zealand, 'and the Board, in adopting one motor only, would tie itself down to one firm and lose the benefit of the open market.

Mr Daniell moved that the Board express its willingness to undertake private installations on the basis of cost price plus 10 per cent. The engineer added that the best method would be to have the work done on piece-work basis. Plenty of men would be offering from Canterbury to work on these lines. Mr Pickett supported the .resolution. It would be most unwise if all manner and classes of motors should be allowed. There would be considerable complaint unless the Board followed a systematic procedure on the advice of its technical advisers.

Mr Spinley also urged a system which gave a reasonable degree of standardisation. People, of course, would have the right to purchase machines privately, but the Board needed a specification for the installation.

The chairman said that travellers had already been 'in the district, and there was the fear lest people Would be rushing into all manner and kinds of equipment. Mr Armstrong referred to the fact that several people in the town had private installations already. It would be unfair to standardise and compel the rejection of these plants, but the Board could make inspection of these installations, so as to determine whether they would work in with the Board's reticulation and voltage. The engineer said they had to guard against all manner of dodges, and people would be asked to purchase single phase motors, and what in reality was useless plant. It was decided to adopt the proposal of reasonable standardisation, and to offer to do the private work on a 10 per cent basis, and also to require the engineer's approval of all power plants before they are allowed connection with the wiring. ,