HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18928, 24 April 1933, Page 6

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

REDUCTION IN AUCKLAND. LOWEST PRICES IN DOMINION. MEETING PRESENT CONDITIONS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Monday. “ Our charges for electricity an now tlie lowest in the Dominion,” sail the chairman of the Waitemata Powei Board, Mr Leighton, in announcing to-day the board’s decision to further reduce the charges to the exVent of £7200 per annum. Among other reductions are a cut in the fixed annual charge of £B, less 20 per cent., to £6 less 20 per cent, in each ease, plus one penny'per unit, for lighting, cooking and heating, and the remission of the flat rate on milking motors during May and September, as well as in June, July and August. Although all consumers using less than 5s monthly are a dead loss to the board, it was also decided to reduce the 5s minimum to 4s 4d, less .20 per cenL " In ftormal times,” said Mr Leighton, “ the board should not interfere with the basic rate on principle, but it is not much use talking principles to-day when many are at their wits’ end to find a shilling, and we are endeavouring to keep everyone connected to the system. This reduction means that the accounts of consumers in the poorest circumstances will hi reduced to 3s 6d per month."

TRANSFER OF INTEREST. A TEST CASE PENDING. AUCKLAND, Monday. In February the auditor-general instructed the Waitemata Power Board that under the provisions of the NewSouth Wales Interest Reduction Act, any payments made without deducting 22J Per cent, of all interest would be contrary to law. The board, having loans from the Australian Mutual Provident Society, placed in the suspense account £3,381 which had been deducted from interest due up to March 31, 1933, its reason being that a test case of the Wanganui-Rangi-tikei Power Board against the Australian Provident Society is pending. The board has now decided to transfer the money to the revenue account. The manager expressed the view that even if the pending action were decided against the local bodies the New Zealand Government would pass retrospective legislation. The chairman said according to law the money could not longer be held In the suspense account. XI the Court later decided against the board, the reductions in the charges (which the board approved to-day) would have to be paid out of reserves.