The Waipukurau Press. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. MONDAY, MAY 30, 1932. A FAR CRY

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 132, 30 May 1932, Page 4

The Waipukurau Press. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. MONDAY, MAY 30, 1932. A FAR CRY

It is in our opinion, based on a close examination of the facts and figures surrounding the progress of the Central Hawke’s Bay Power Board a far cry to the day of being faced with the necessity for levying a rate in order to meet any deficiency in revenue. The estimates have been conservatively framed, i.e. the revenue expectations treated more

pessismistically than optimistically, and the expenditure placed at the maximum of need rather than minimum, therefore can, as in the past, be relied upon. Of course, if the consumers suffer an exceptional setback, the worst could happen, but the retention of high rates for. lighting would not help to stem the tide — contrariwise tend to hasten the day when rates would need to be called up. The Power Board being as the chairman claimed at the annual meeting in a sound position, and enjoying strong reserves indirectly and a reasonably large one for immediate needs, it appears inconsistent for anyone to urge ultra-conservatism at a time such as the present when the masses of the people require hearten-

ing in their everyday financial difficulties. As the Waipukurau Borough representative pointed out, there is no just ground for imputing to any member urging modest concessions consistent with present ability to do so, a want of appreciation of the possibility of country ratepayers being burdened with a rate. In combating such a contention the Borough member could have pointed out that the Waipukurau and Waipawa ratepayers, on a higher capital value basis in relation to the unimproved valuation, would also share in such a burden, but inasmuch as the local borough has provided the power district with one-third of its consumers and revenue (approximately) it is obvious that a board composed of seven country and two borough members would not resort to general rate levying ere finally collecting the maximum possible from consumers, then utilising an availability rate

demand. This fact was indicated by several country as well as the town members in the course of Friday’s keen debates. In direct contrast to the minority country opposition to the reduction of Id in the domestic lighting charge, also the almost unanimous expression of opinion against including business lighting (although benefiting not only Waipukurau and Waipawa, but Otane, Takapau, Onga Onga and Tikokino) in the concession, was the unanimous town and country support of a proposal to grant an extended concession to the Waipawa Hospital Board’s hospitals, the major portion of whose revenue is provided by the country ratepayers. Another point: Why be pessimistic in the light of figures covering oversea trade of the Dominion for April showing a marked im-

provement as compared with those of last month. For the first four months of the year the position disclosed is that export values (£16,500,000) are up by over £1,500,000 and imports (£7,609,972) are lower by more than £1,800,000 as compared with the figures of a year ago, with a considerable gain (£3j500,000) in the favourable balance (£8 > 847,000). In contrast with the low figure of £2,768,134 for March, the Dominion’s exports last month were valued at £4,957,535, which represents a very large increase on the figure for April, 1931. Imports -were at the favourably low figure of £1,760,689. Had the Powei’ Board seen fit to take into greater account than represented by a reduction of a id. per unit in the domestic lighting basic rate of 9d. per unit, to the extent of including business lighting charges (entirely on a flat rate of 8d), the section of consumers concerned being in need of relief, or even Id. reduction over both branches of lighting service, it would as one member emphasised during the debate on the question at issue, have been fully justified by the example set by the Government fin drawing upon Soldier Settlement reservees to the extent of over £2,000,000 in relieving the general body of taxpayers with incomes in excess of £2 50 per annum, and more especially those enjoying a flat rate, instead of continued graduated basis, above the 8,700 mark. There was a disposition on the part of the chairman to lay stress on continuing to make provision for a “rainy day,” this being countered by an adamant member insisting that the “rainy day” had duly arrived! These criticised aspects apart, we realise that the general position of the board and its operations call for much more commenda-

tion than in some quarters is vouchsafed, but our policy is to give honour to whom it is due —to the extent that it is due. We are not prepared either publically or privately to be parties to servile “white-washing”, and some opinions to the contrary, can prove that this is so. It is to the credit of the board that the business lighting rate was reduced last year by Id. per unit, also the range rate and country minimum charges lowered, Mr. W. H. Rathbone being associated with the local borough member in this initiative, which had involved obtaining much data; while on this occosion Messrs. F. J. Witherow and R. A. Fraser were also specially alert in prompting the reduction agreed upon. As the records of the board’s proceedings clearly reveal, the somewhat persistent allegation that members are dominated by the chairman and secretary-manager is on the one hand an undue compliment to the two gentlemen concerned and on the other an unfair taunt at the expense of a body of men who very freely, but not in a narrow groove, express differences of opinion. , ■