'PILL' FOR POWER BOARD

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 232, 1 October 1928, Page 8

'PILL' FOR POWER BOARD

ACCOUNT FOR SWITCH GEAR.

ESTIMATE FAR EXCEEDED.

LIABILITY OVERLOOKED.

Delay by the Public Works Department to furnish an account for the installation of 11,000 volt switch gear at Takapuna and Henderson at a cost of £1935 is not apreciated by the Waitemata Electric Power Board, especially as the little "pill" they are expected to swallow exceeds the approximate estimate for the work by £400. The beard was happy in the belief that its original commitment was £1530, and now an effort will be made to settle the matter at a figure approaching nearer this amount. The chairman (Mr. J. W. Haydcn) stated at this morning's meeting of the board that the switch gear was transferred from Lake Coleridge and the price now quoted for its installation was £400 above the estimate. "In my opinion the price is too high," he said. Mr. G. Trevithick 6aid the commitment did not appear on the balancesheet. Mr. Hay den: No. It is a liability that was overlooked. Mr. S. E. Kennings said the board was not as prosperous as it thought it was, being £1935 worse off than indicated by the balance-shect. Terms of a Settlement. Another member expressed the view that the board could not help but meet the liability, seeing that only an estimate for the work was given when the agreement was made to have the plant installed. Mr. Hayden: The board would be willing to settle within £100 of the price. A Member: When is the estimate the actual figure? A chorus of "Never." Mr. Kennings: Are there any other accounts like this to come in? Mr. Hayden: One would think we would have had the bill long before this. Mr. E. G. Skeatcs: It is a fault on their part. Mr. Kennings said if the board was a private concern it would be a serious thing for it to receive such an account 18 months after its balance-sheet was out. "We have to pay and it is no use us talking about it," commented Mr. G. Trevithick after further argument, which culminated in the chairman and engineer (Mr. F. J. H. \Vilson) being instructed to wait on the Public Works engineer in Hamilton and try to get the liability reduced.