HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17714, 18 May 1929, Page 3

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

TE AWAMUTU BOARD. < , i j MONTHLY MEETING. i WORK OF MANAGER RECOGNISED. The monthly meeting of the Te Awamutu Electric Power Board was held yesterday, when the chairman (Mr J. T. Johnson) presided, and there were also present Rev. W. Butterworth and Messrs J. G. Sutherland, J. B. Teasdale, N. M. Lethbridge, A. L. Storey, G. G. Downes, and S. G. Macky. The secretary-manager (Mr I). McArthur) was also in attendance. The secretary, Ohaupo School Committee, wrote asking if the board would ■Stiver the overhead wires running aast the children’s play grounds.—lt was decided to point out to the school committee what extra safeguards could be taken, and to notify them that the board is willing to meet half the cost. An invitation was received from the committee arranging for a public presentation to Mr L. G. Armstrong, in recognition of his services as Mayor of Te Awamutu for the past ten years, on Wednesday evening next, asking the chairman, members and staff to be present. —The invitation was accepted. The chairman, Electric Supply Authorities Engineers' Association, advised that the annual conference will be held in Wellington on May 21, 22, and 23, at the same time as the Secretaries’ Association conference. —The electrical foreman and secretary were authorised to attend these conferences. The Palmerston North borough electrical engineer inquired if the board would hire, sell, or loan any 11,000 or 3300 volt transformer it may have on hand. . The District Electrical Engineer, Public Works Department, Hamilton, notified that power will be cut off on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.rn., during the shut-down of the Mystery CreekTe Awamutu-Tlangaliki 50 KV line, to enable works on the line to be carried out. Revenue for the Month. The revenue for March was shown to%e as follows: —General lighting, heating, etc., £IBB7 6s 8d; power, £2075 0s 6d; penalties and sundries, £54 11s; streets, £44 7s 6d; making a total of £4061 5s Bd, as against £3575 13s 3d for the same period last year. Accounts totalling £3278 14s 9d were passed for payment. The consumers’ finance showed a credit balance of £564 Is sd. The board’s executive is to consist of the chairman and Messrs J. G. Sutherland and C. G. Downes, to deal with any urgent matters between board meetings. The queston of raising another portion of the £25,000 loan already authorised by the ratepayers was discussed by the board. The manager quoted figures to show the capital expenditure that was required and would be required during the ygar. —It was decided to raise the balance of the loan, £II,OOO, on the best possible terms, the money to be lifted as required, at the discretion of the chairman and the manager. The chairman brought up the question of the erection of a house for the ■electrical foreman. At ..present the foreman has no security of tenure. He thought this matter might be gone into by.the executive to report to the next meeting of the board. — This was agreed to., .■ .v Tributes to Manager. ' ; Mr J. G: Sutherland suggested that the time is ripe to give their manager a spell. He had been with them some nine The board had definitely turned the corner, and he would move that Mr McArthur be given three months’ leave of absence. Mr Lethbridge and Mr Downes supported the proposal. The matter of arranging matters was left in the hands of the executive. Mr McArthur said it was very gratifying to hear the kind remarks. He thanked them sincerely. The chairman gave notice of motion for the next meeting regarding the charges on milking motors, to reduce the charge £1 per year. He also gave notice regarding rescinding the charge for meter rents. The Inspector’s Report. During the period since last meeting «.I have inspected and tested the following installations and extensions: — lighting plants 10, electric shearingplant 1, electric ranges 7, electric water heaters 7; total for month, 25. Tfiis makes a total to date as follows: —Lighting . plants 1400, cow-plant motors 488, other power plants 64, water pump motors 149, electric washing machines 2, electric shearing motors 10, electric ranges 129, electric water heaters 475; grand total, 2717. Also tested and inspected extensions and alterations on 10 lighting installations, representing 22 lighting points, 6 heating installations, 1 water heater, 1 other power plant, and 2 electric ranges. This makes a total to date of 896 extensions. Total number of large grillers installed to date, 234. Tested and connected 3 large radiators. Total number of 2 kilowatt radiators connected to date, 35. Tested 40 service meters; installed 29 service meters; disconnected 1 meter; rc-connected 9 meters; repaired 18 meters. The report was adopted.

TH-E ANNUAL MEETING. MR JOHNSON RE-ELECTED. At the annual meeting of the hoard the secretary called for nominations for the office of chairman. Mr J. G. Sutherland proposed that Mr J. T. Johnson be. elected chairman, and at the same lime said that he intended to move that the honorarium be the same as last year—-

namely, £2OO per annum. He pointed out Mr Johnson's many good qualities as chairman. As regards the honorarium, he referred to the amount of the board's turnover, and said the work would require a large amount of supervision by the chairman. Mr N. M. Lethbridge, in seconding the motion, said he thought Mr Johnson had earned his honorarium in the past, and would continue to do so. There being no further nominations, Mr McArthur declared Mr Johnson re-cleeled. Mr Johnson, in acknowledging -he compliment, said he fully appreciated what had been said. He acknowledged the collaboration that he had received from the secretary and the members of the board. The chairman extended a very hearty welcome to the two new members. Referring to Mr Downes, he said he was not altogether a stranger, as he had been a member of the board previously for some years. This Year’s Operations. Mr Johnson then gave a resume of the year's operations as follows . On March 31, 1928, the number of connections to our lines was 2 a 97, while at March 31 of this year there were 2927, an increase for the year of 330 connections, these exclusive of small heating appliances and electric irons. In addition to the above there were 241 extensions to existing plants. On the revenue account the sales of current total £26,006 16s Bd, as against £23,405 2s 3d, being an increase on sales account of £2601 l-»» 5d or 11.12 per cent, over the previous rear. The total revenue from all sources was £26.287 16s 3d, which shows a return on the total capital expenditure, including purchase of property, buildings, sub-stations, lines, machinery and plant of 16.17 per cent. Briefly, the year’s transactions, as disclosed by the balancesheet. show the position to be. as follows :—By credit balance from income' and expenditure account, £14,419 2s sd; penalties on rates, £5 2s id; interest on advances to consumers, £196 Is Id. Total, £14,620 ■ss 7d. Against that figure there is the balance of old accumulated losses amounting to £650 3s 7d; fntorest on loans, £9224 4s; rates written off, £Bb 7s; sinking fund appropriation, £1536 7s 7d; depreciation fund account, £500; leaving a credit balance at the end of March of £2629 3s 9d. We started the year with a debit balance of £650 3s 7d, and ended the year with a credit balance of £2629 3s od, after meeting all out-goings and setting aside £SOO for depreciation reserve. The financial position of the board is very sound, and the time has now arrived When we can make some further concessions to our consumers. This year 1 suggest it may be possible to concede a further £1 per h.p. on milking motors per year, and further, we might eliminate the rent of Is per month on all meters, a concession in which all consumers wi share. These two items atone will mean a reduction in charges of £I6OU per annum. Put into unit values, the cutting out of the meter rent will be the equivalent of a penny a unit reduction on 12 units each month, a total which many of our smaller householder consumers fail to reach, especially during the summer months. Doubtless the board will also deal with sundry minor adjustments in its scale of charges from time to time. Before concluding my remarks, I would like to place on record my appreciation of the'faithful'work done and services rendered by our late colleagues, Messrs Spinley and Monteliore. Also I would thank all members for their unfailing courtesy to myself as their chairman. From the manager and his staff we have had every courtesy and assistance. Mr Downes thanked the chairman for his kindly words of welcome, and congratulated the board on the healthy state of the finances. Rev. \V. Bultcrworth also thanked the chairman for his welcome.