SECOND EDITION ELECTRIC POWER

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXX, Issue 162, 18 July 1935, Page 8

SECOND EDITION ELECTRIC POWER

# Central H.B. Board MONTHLY MEETING TO-DAY GENERAL MATTERS DISCUSSED The monthly meeting of the Central Hawke’s Bay Electric Power Board was held to-day, Mr. A. C. Russell (chairman) presiding over the following members: Messrs. W. H. Rathbone, A. C. Holms, A. W. S. Longley, R. A. Fraser, C. Pattison, F. J. Witherow, and M. Ryan. The secretarymanager (Mr. G. E. Fowler) and the engineer (Mr. J. K. Lee) were in attendance. Mr. J. A. Kerr was granted leave of absence. Hunter Park. The Town Clerk, Waipukurau, wrote thanking the board for favourable consideration in regard to Hunter Park street light.—Received. Test Case.

The secretary, Hawke’s Bay Electric Power Board wrote advising that Mr. Wylie (secretary-manager) had been nominated to represent power boards in the test case with Australian Co., regarding reduction of interest. The secretary-manager said that the amount of loan involved was £491,000, of which £lO,OOO only “ represented Central Hawke's Bay’s share. The board’s costs of the case . would therefore be 100/4919ths. of I the legal charges. I The letter was received. i “Departmental Reply.” The District Electrical Engineer, Shannon, wrote advising that he could not accede to the request for the changing of meters (Dannevirke-Cen-tral Hawke’s Bay), as the staff was too busy. Mr. Rathbone said that it was a typical departmental reply. There was a definite disparity in the peak loads of Central Hawke’s Bay and the neighbouring board. The department was not too busy to do anything if it happened to be in its own interests. The letter was received. 1 Conference Delegates. The. secretary, New Zealand Power Boards’ Association, Wellington, wrote advising that the Secretaries’ and Engineers’ Conferences would be held at Wellington on September 9 to 11 inclusive, with the main conference on September 12 and 13. The chairman and Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P. (Palmerston North) were appointed to represent the board at the main conference, the secretary-man- | ager and the engineer to attend their : respective conferences. I > Board’s Finances. ! The secretary of the Government j Life Insurance, Wellington, wrote exI pressing pleasure at the splendid fin- ! ancial position of the board. The Electrical Engineer, Shannon; the secretary, A.M.P. Society, Wellington; the Southland Electric Power Board, and others, wrote similarly.—■ Received.

The General Manager, New Zealand Railways, Wellington, wrote stating that the matter of installing electricity in Railway cottages in the board’s area was under consideration.—Received. Radio Interference. Mr. L. de la Haye, Hatuma, wrote complaining of unsatisfactory radio reception due to power interference, which, he said, was particularly bad in wet and windy weather. He urged that steps should be taken permanent-, ly to rectify the trouble. In reply to a question, the engineer said that 180 switch-fuses, costing £lO each, would be required to install new ones throughout the Board's area. The chairman remarked that this would be too big a job. Mr. Fraser said that radios consumed £2OOO worth of current annually and this business was worth looking after. The secretary-manager said that new fuses had been installed near Mr. de la Haye’s, but had apparently not been effective. The installation of new fuses throughout the area would cost £3OOO. Mr. Fraser: All these complaints will cost the board money if they are not attended to. Mr. Holms spoke in favour of sectional attention. SECRETARY-MANAGER’S REPORT In the course of his report the sec-

retary-manager said: — The maximum demand for the quarter ending June 3 0, reached a record of 900 kilowatt, equalling 990 k.v.a. at a cost of £2OBO. The time of the peak load was at 5.30 p.m. on 10/5/35. The units purchased from the department totalled 1,224,739. The maximum demand for the same quarter in 1934 was 838 k.w. equalling 910 k.v.a., which cost the board £1920, while units purchased in the same quarter in 1934 totalled 1,193,720. Cost of bulk energy therefore, increased £l6 0, whilst units received from the department were 31,019 more than in 1934. Until the readings are completed, it is not possible to say whether the ratio of increased costs is compensated for by the increase in revenue. I would point out that even if the maximum demand for the quarter ending September 30 goes j no higher than it had up to the pres- ■ ent moment, the cost for energy for 1 this quarter will be £1972 as against I £1935 in the July-September quarter I of 1934, an increase of £137. The estimate for bulk energy costs for £1935-36 is £7647 17/- and our liability to date is £4052, with no guarantee of course, that the demand for the present quarter will not be higher than it is to date. Business generally has been brisk since last meeting. Tree Cutting: Two men are engaged in cutting back the trees in the ! area.