REDUCED CHARGES.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1418, 20 October 1923, Page 8

REDUCED CHARGES.

INCREASING POPULARITY. The Te Awamutu Electric Power Board realises the need for cheaper power, and with this object in view it was decided at yesterday's meeting to reduce the charges for power supplied to milking plants. In accordance with notice given last month Mr Sutherland moved that the Board's fixed charge per horse power tor milking plant motors be reduced by £1 per horse power per annum. Speaking to his motion Mr Sutherland said that this was the first occasion on which the Board had had opportunity to show the power consumers that any reductions were actually in their own hands. The more consumers the sooner would the rate be again reduced. There was an erroneous impression that the £6 was fixed by the Government. That was not so. It was merely a figure fixed upon to cover the cost of power used, for which the Board had to pay the Government. Mr Parlane seconded. To Mr Daniell, Mr Sutherland said meters already installed,' represented an outlay of £2400. The proposed reduction was recommended by the Finance Committee, which had gone very carefully into the subject. Mr Daniell said the Board was not seeking to make a big profit. The day may come when it will be possible to dispense altogether with meters, and the capital outlay would go a long way towards paying interest charges. The wlhole district was yet very meagrely supplied with power motors for milking plants. He was in favour of the reduction, and hoped for still better things in the future, when the power wan in more universal use. Mr Downes said that, the reduction proposed would cause a reduction in revenue of £433 per annum. But, on the other hand, by cheapening the rate the number of consumers would increase, and this would soon restore the total revenue to its present figure. The chairman said he also was in favour of the motion. Mr Sutherland's motion was then put and carried unanimously.