A POWER SCHEME.

Waipa Post, Volume XXI, Issue 1281, 15 August 1922, Page 5

A POWER SCHEME.

FOR OTOROHANGA DISTRICT.

POSITION OF TE AWAMUTU BOARD.

(Resident Representative.)

In 'response to an invitation extended to the Te Awamuitu Power Board, Messrs J. T. Johnson (chairman), G. Spinley (a member), H. F. Toogood (consulting engineer), and D. M'CArthur (secretary-manager) yesterday whited on the Otorohanga County Council for .the purpose of giving full information anent the operation of the board and its position in regard to the outer area or Otorohanga district. Mr Johnson’s Address.

Mr Johnson, having been asked to address the Council said that there had been a deal of criticism (uncalled for) by certain people, but they had never been under obligation to Te Kudti in any way whatever, and though he had replied to it there had been no call for him to do so. The only area they as/ a board were interested in was the present outer area, which, however, could, if it was wished, be enlarged to the south and east. Te Kuiti people seemed to be breaking their neck® to gather in this' outer area. The Otorohanga people should know the reason of the outer area being formed, and how they, as a Board, were ready to carry out their obligations to Otorohanga. They asked for information, but he was not sure what it wa® they wanted.

Cr. Young slaid he thought all that was required was general information as to cost, etc. Mr Johnson said that with regard to the cost of the main reticulation line they would have to hear a share of the southern line. He thought the proportion would be about £2500. Mr Johnson then gave particulars of the ramifications of the Te Awattnutu Power Board’s work in the inner area. They had an area of 260 square miles, and 240 road mile s of this area was reticulated at a cost of £377 per mile This was main lines only, and did not include any service lines. The cost Included all transformer capacity and buildings, etc. He was not going to say his Board had never made mistakes, but he did not know, where the mistakes were. 'They had had visitsl from representatives of local bodies from the south, etc., but they had one and all stated they thought the'ir construction work was excellently carried out. In his reply to the criticism he bad' .pointed out that it wasl not a year since they turned on the light at Te Awamutu, and to give an idea of how power was was being sought after he would mention that in August last year they had 68 connections (household). Then in October the number was 158, Nov. 197, Dec. 249, Jan, 262, Feb. 309, Mar. 348, April 370, May 380, June 470 and July 485, and the number of applications wasl increasing every day, and by the time the new milking season opened they calculated to have over 500 customers.

Cost of Installations. As to the cost of installations, Mr Johnson said he would give them it. T,he figures are based on the latest quotations by contractors: (Household services: 3 lights at 42s 6d per point, £6 7s 6d; 1 heating point, £2 2s >6d; total, £8 10s. Four lights at £2 per point, £8; 1 heating point, £2- total, £lO. Five lights at £1 16s per point, £9 15s; heating point £ll9s; total, £ll 14s. (Six lights at £1 l’Bs per point, £ll 8s; heating point, £118s; total, £l3 16s. .Seven lights at £1,17s 6d per point, £l3 2s 6d; 1 heating point, £1 17s 6d; total, £ls. Eight lights at £1 17s per point, £l4 16s. Motor installation costs: One h.p., installed in cowshed on wall, using a bracket, including wiring of shed for motor nnd switchboard, no pulleys or belting, £24 10s; 1 light in separator room. £2; 1 h.p. motor, installed with extras, 4 feet l!-inch shafting, £24105; 2 plummer (blocks, 2 collars, pulleys, and brackets for shafting, £5; 2 lights in cowshed, £3 ‘10s; total, £33; 2 h.p. motor, but no pulleys or (belting, £26 10s; 1 light, £2; total, £2B 10s; 2 h.p. motor installed, including 3 pulleys, 40 feet belting and labour of erecting pulleys, £25 10s; 1 light, £2; total, £3O 10s; 2 h.p. motor, £26 10s; 3 pulleys and 40 feet belting. £5; 2 lights, £3 10s; total, £35. Cost of power service lines: Fourwire service for power, no poles, covered wire at 4s 7d- yard,£s 0s lOd per chain; cost of 4-wire services to cow plants in county; this included upright on cowshed*and protective plugs for motor; 4Avire service to shed, no poles, 3s 4d per yard, £3 13s 4d per chain; 4-wire service, 1 pole, at £2 2d, £2 9s 6d; 4-wire service, 2 poles, at 2s Sid, £2 19s 7d per chain; 4-wire service, consumer finds 10 poles and assists to erect, £1 13s per chain; 4wire service to cow plant, Board supplies 4 poles, at 2s 4d per yard. £2 Tls 4d per chain. In reply to Cr Cooper, Mr Johnson stated that the approximate cost of power for a. herd of 40 cows for the milking season would he about £3 Is 2d per month at the present time. Cr Lurman, referring to a report of the Te Kuiti provisional committee, said he wished it .thoroughly understood that that report was not intended as a criticism of the“Te Awamutu Board. Perhaps it ought not to have been 'published.

Reply to Criticism.

Cr Johnson said he thought he un-derstood-the position, hut he, as .chairman of the Te (Awamutu Power Board, resented anyone or any body accusing his Board of extravagance _ and bad management. The .reason of the outer area being formed was that they had not been in the position to undertake the reticulation of the Otorohanga district. They did not feel it behoved them ‘to saddle the outer area with a rate from which they at the time could get no benefit. However, they had undertaken ran obligation to the outer area, and were prepared to carry it out. Cr Budden said he had nothing opposed to the Te Awamutu Electric Power Board, but looked at the matter from a broad-minded point of view. He wanted to see the cheapest source of power adopted, and wondered that the Marakopa scheme had not been 1 adopted. He thought and acted for

the best interests of the whole of the ratepayers of the district. He had too antagonism to the Te Awamutu Power Board. At the same time he thought the questions asked by the Te Kuiti provisional .committtee should have been answered. He though t v they might yet join with Te Awamutu.

The Revenue.

(In ,reply to Cr Budden, the manager and the engineer stated that the Pates were lower than any others in the Dominion, and they had in vieiw a supply service sufficient to provide an income to meet all costs. As soon as the financial position -was better they would be likely to get a demand for power from every settler in the district. In further reply to €r Budden, Mr Johnson said he was not going to pose as a prophet and say they would have a revenue within two years sufficient to obviate the striking of a rate to meet interest. They had, however, a number o probable applicants for power supply in view that would bring in revenue sufficient to meet all cost, but he could not say these would link up within two years. They had struck a rate of l-7diin order to meet administration charges, as they did not want to mortgage their possible revenue. information for Te Kniti.

Mr Johnson here referred to the charge that his Board had refused to give certain information to the Te Kuiti provisional comimittee. He was ready to explain the matter. This he did, saving that he had felt 'that his Board had not been treated courteously by the Te Kuiti delegates, and explained why. Cr Phillips, in reply, explained the position as it had appeared to the Te Kuiti committee, and tlie matter ended by both gentlemen appreciating the action of both bodies sympathetically. Thanks for Information. Cr Lurman expressed the thanks of the. Council to Mr Johnson and colleagues for their attendance. They had given a lot of information that had been required, and no doubt the ratepayers of the district would wake up to the position of affairs and now heable to take an active 'interest in this important queston. Mr Johnson thanked the chairman and councillors for their reception; and said he was pleased to have come there to satisfy them as to the true position of affairs.