HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18642, 21 May 1932, Page 9

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

TE AWAMUTU BOARD

THE ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Te Awamutu Electric Power Board was held on Friday, when there were present Messrs J. T. Johnson, C. G. Downes, J. B. Teasdale, W. J. North, S. C. Mackv, A. L. Storey, N. M. Lethbridge.

On the secretary calling for nominations for the position of chairman, Mr Downes said he had much pleasure in proposing Mr Johnson’s re-election as chairman, and in so doing he paid a high compliment to Mr Johnson s qualifications. This was seconded by Mr Macky and carried unanimously.

The secretary, Mr McArthur, remarked this would be Mr Johnson's thirteenth year of office. The chairman’s honorarium was fixed at. £132 for the ensuing year.

Mr Johnson thanked the members for their renewed confidence.

Annual Report.

The chairman rea'd his annual report, which stated, inter alia: “ In my annual report of the previous year's operations I had occasion to refer to the difficult situation due to the existing depression, and it Is regrettable that not only has this depression persisted, but has steadily grown in intensity. Notwithstanding the fact that the board has continued to add to the total of Its connected load In response to increased demand, this is the first year since the inception of the board that the revenue has shown a decrease, 'due to two factors: The economic conditions prevailing, and the reduction of £1 per horsepower on cow-plant motors and id per unit In the domestic lighting rate, which In the aggregate amounted to £IB6O. The decrease in revenue as oompared with the the previous year was £633 17s lid, so that natural increase accounts for the £1226 2s id required to make up the balance on the reduction in charges.

“The number of new connections to our lines, exclusive of small heating applianoes and electric irons, numbered 127, thus increasing the total number of our connections from 3601 at March 31, 1931, to 3728 at March 31, 1932. “In addition to the above there were also 135 extensions to existing plants. These additional connections and extensions together with the increased load of the dried milk factory which has this year been added to the board's connected load, raises the total connected load from 5482.189 k.w. at March 31, 1931, to 5787.227 k.w. at March 31, 1932, an increase ot 305.038 k.w.

“ Our revenue from sales of current alone amounts to £29,518 11s 9d, as against £30,152 9s 8d for the previous year, a decrease of £633 17s lid, being a decrease of 2.1 per cent, as against the previous year. “ The revenue from all sources for the year amounts to £29,690 6s 7d, which gives us a return of 16.73 per oent. on the total capital expenditure, Including property, buildings, linos, sub-stations, and machinery and plant, “ Credit balance from this year’s income and expenditure account was £l4 402 7s 3d, Interest on advances to consumers £67 6s 7d, rent of house £7 0 17s 2d, Court fines paid to board £4 15s; total, £14,545 6s. As against the last mentioned figure, there are the following charges: Interest on loans, £10,061 Is Id; sinking fund, £IB3O 19s Id; bad debts, £137 10s 4d; superannuation payment, £l3O 16s 9 d - and depreciation reserve, £1000: totalling £13,180 Gs. Bd, which leaves a credit balance on the year’s Operations of £1304 19s 4d, and this added to the credit balance of £6382 7s HI brought forward from lasL year now makes the balance carried forward £77 47 0s 5d.”

THE ORDINARY MEETING. THE FINANCIAL POSITION. The ordinary meeting of the To Awamuiu Electric Power Board was held on Friday, when tho chairman, Mr J. T. Johnson, presided and the slime members were present. The telegraph engineer of the Post and. Telegraph Department wrote sending a decision by the chief electrical engineer, in tho case of the Hutt Valley Power Board’s claim for expense’s incurred in altering service lines, necessitated by the Post and Telegraph Department’s altering its poles over which the service lines were crossing. The engineer has ruled that tlvs cost must be borne by the Ilutt Valley Board. The secretary, Power Boards’ Association, advised that in view of the present economic conditions and tlie little likelihood of obtaining legislation Ollier than that relating to the present emergency, it lias been decided not to hold a conference HHs year. A meeting of the,executive will however, be held on Juno 7. The chairman -said Hie only remit lie knew of was Ihe reduction in Hie price of the first 200 k.v.li. —Left to chairman and manager.

Logal Action.

The secretary, Wanganui-Rangitikei Power Board wrote on tlie proposed Supreme Court judgment to define liability of the Crown regarding installation* charges and the agreement to contribute not more Ilian £2 2 s towards Hie cost of obtaining judgment, It stated tho general feeling is that action should be taken by tlie Power Boards’ Association and Hie above board will not act independently unless the matter is 100 long deferred. The Olorohanga County returning officer formally notified tlie election unopposed of Mr N. M. Lethbridge as representative of Hie northern part of the county on the hoard. The Waipn County advised Ihe re-election of Messrs J. T. Johnson, J. G. Sutherland, J. B. Teasda'e, A. J,. Storey and S. C. Mucky.

The question of interference with [•ahio sc I s was discussed, and Ihe manager slated that they had made Ihe stand that in future any complainants must guarantee the board for any expenses incurred in these inquiries, It’ if is proved that the fault is not with Ihe board’s lines and installation. Finance. The revenue earned from the sales of ciirreul for March was as follows: lieucral lighting and healing, illhb't ! | s 'id: power, li I 'l O a Os hd ; penalties (Continued in next column.)

and sundries, £54 3s 8d; street lights, £43 15s id; making a total oi' £2597 ids 7d; as against £2719 4s Sd for the same month last year. Accounts totalling £lOOl 0s 7d were passed for payment. The consumers’ finance fund showed a credit of £6B.

The manager read tlie annual statement and -balance sheet for the year 1931-32, tlie main items of which had been mentioned in the chairman's annual report. The net result showed a credit balance on the year’s operation of £1364 19s 4d, which, added to Hie previous credit of £6582 7s Id, carries forward a credit balance of £7747 6s sd.

The chairman moved that they hold a special meeting of the whole board on June 17, lor the purposes of considering the estimates for Lire coming year. This was agreed 10. Notioe of Motion. Mr Downes gave notice of motion lo move at tlie next meeting that in lieu of Hie present charges for street i lighting lo Hie Borough Council and J subject, to review each year, a Hat charge of £2OO he made to tlie Te Awamuiu Borough Council. The chairman also gave notice of motion to move at the next meeting Dial from July 1 there lie a further reduction of £1 per h.p. on milking plants, and Id per unit on commercial and house lighting. In doing wo lie said the board had showed a profit on last year’s working of over £I3OO, and though Ihe revenue had decreased he anticipated there would also be a natural increase in consumption. Further, there would lie a certain reduction in interest charges. The reductions totalled £2 122 3s 7d, lull should lie more than made up for by the ere[ilil balance fur last year, plus interest i reductions.