REDUCTION PROPOSED

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 130, 27 May 1932, Page 5

REDUCTION PROPOSED

Charges for Electric Power DISCUSSION THIS MORNING C.H.B. BOARD MEETING A suggestion that a reduction of Id. per unit in the charge for current might be made this year was advanced by Mr. A. C. Holms at the annual meeting of the Central Hawke’s Bay Electric Power Board this morning, when the Chairman’s report was under discussion.

“I would like to have seen a more favourable balance, but I think wc’vc done remarkably well, considering the period of depression and oppression that, we are going through,” said the Chairman, commenting on his annual report. Continuing, he. paid a tribute to the support of the consumers, staff, and board members. Mr Witherow congratulated the Chairman on his report. “If we go along as we have done, we’ll weather the storm,’’ he said. “I think wo can all join with the Chairman in a feeling of satisfaction as far as the general position of the board is concerned,” said Mr A. C. Holms, remarking that the relation of working expenses to revenue earned was particularly creditable in view of the peculiar difficulties of serving a widely scattered area. Referring to reductions in charges for current, Mr Holms said that, when the finance committee had gone into the matter, he had not at the time thought it quite possible for the board to make any concessions in that direction this year. However, ho knew that the public would he keenly disappointed if the board did not fall into line with other boards, which were reducing charges, although their reserves were little greater than those of b/A Central Hawke’s Bay Board. WaiTarapa had made a reduction from 7d to Old per unit for lighting, and he thought the 'Board might well compromise in a similar manner and make a reduction of one half-penny as an expression of sympathy with the consumers in the difficulties they were facing. Mr Holms stressed the fact that the Board’s depreciation fund and reserves were in a strong position.

Mr R. A. Fraser said that before a. general reduction was made all consumers (town and country) should be placed on the same basis as far as payment was concerned. It had been promised that this would he done last year. He was unable to congratulate the Chairman on his report because this had not been done.

Replying briefly to Mr Fraser’s contention that the country did not receive ft due share of the concessions given last year, Mr Holms pointed out that the concessions had been framed on a 50/50 basis between town and country by the finance committee and had operated as desired. Of reductions totalling £546 19s 2d, £404 15s 9d had gone to the Country and Waipawa Borough area, while £142 3s 5d had reached the Waipukurau Borough which was a third of the board’s revenue area. The Chairman said that if the board made a reduction of 4d. per unit, he doubted -whether it would benefit the consumers much, while it would jeopardise the financial position of the Board. He had not heard any complaints from country consumers. Mr Holms urged that the words “In my opinion” should be inserted in the following clause of the Chairman’s report: “I regret to say that nothing can be done this year to reduce the burden on consumers.”

After some discussion this suggestion was adopted and, on the motion of Mr AV. H. Rathbone, seconded by Mr Witherow, the report was adopted.