SUPPLIES AND HIGH COSTS AFFECTING POWER BOARD WORK

Wanganui Chronicle, 18 May 1950, Page 8

SUPPLIES AND HIGH COSTS AFFECTING POWER BOARD WORK

“Although supplies of line materials have improved during the year the situation is still not, as a whole, very satisfactory as sufficient stocks cannot be built up to tide over lean periods,” said the engineer (Mr. D. B. Hughes) in his annual report to the monthly meeting of the Wanganui-Rangitikei Electric-Power Board on Monday. “The cost of line construction is becoming greater each year and there are very few items which do not increase in price every few months. Examples are 26ft. hardwood poles which cost £5 10s to land in Wanganui in 1949 are now £7 3s and copper which was £ll7 per ton in 1949 is now £153,” said Mr. Hughes. “The deliveries of hardwood poles are poor, the prices are high and they are not as satisfactory in quality as formerly. It would thus appear that the board should adopt the alternative of making its own concrete poles as English-steel is becoming more readily obtainable and is gradually becoming cheaper. RURAL LINES. “At present the board has 253 potential consumers in rural areas requiring 165 miles of line estimated Io cost £116,705. If one complete line gang could be employed continuously to do this work the time required would be about 8 years. Mr. Hughes said it will not be possible to carry out a full year’s rural reticulation programme due to urgent work at Hunterville, Marton and. Bulls. “I regret that this step must < be taken, but until the staff position at Marton improves it will be necessary for the Wanganui linesmen, who carry out the rural construction, to give their immediate attention to this urgent maintenance and reconstruction,” he said. “The carrying out of this essential work means that for only six months of the year will the board be able to undertake the construction of rural lines. The board will, therefore, have' to seriously consider what lines it will authorise for construction during the six months. The total number of transformers on the board’s lines is now 899. Supplies of transformers have generally been good but orders have to be placed well in advance. Most of the transformers received during the year were of New Zealand manufacture but a few of an English make which had been on order for three years came to hand. Supplies of pole hardware have been particularly difficult. This is apparently due to the fact that only New Zealand manufactured hardware has been obtainable, but it is expected that English imports will remedy the position in the near future. “It was hoped that portions of Wanganui would be equipped with the new' Rythmatic water heater controls early in 1950, but due to delays in shipping, etc. it will be some time before these controls will be installed.” Practically all water heaters in the board’s area have now been fitted with thermostats and those few outstanding will be attended to in the near futre. “The replacement of the City Council trams by private buses will cause a great deal of work for the board, and it is to be hoped that the staff position does not deteriorate. The syllabus for the training of linesmen has been completed and the men have profited considerably from the theoretical and practical instruction given. The classes are held once a week for two hours an evening and generally have been well attended considering that it has been a voluntary effort. A start is being made at the beginning of the course again for the benefit of those assistant linesmen who have joined the staff in the last few months.