ELECTRICITY RATES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 69, Issue 7, 2 May 1944, Page 4

ELECTRICITY RATES

Sir, —I was very pleased to see, that Mr Major has taken the lead in voicing his protest against the new elee* tricity rates. Every consumer will see, if they compare their accounts with the new rates, that they are to pay more on their lighting, heating and range accounts which, become a one rate basis. The council do not tell us whether the 20 per cent increase on hot water heating and. range, is part of the Government order for conservation of electicity. Would the council be? good enough to quote this Govern* ment order in the. press for the benefit of consumers? Would they also publish, as I had it stated to me by one in authority, their right to increase the electricity by the Price Tribunal and the Stabilisation Committee. I am afraid that this will not be done. May I also add that the council's financial statement,, in the Beacon regarding the electricity account, was very very vague. How well the person who made up this statement could do with a lesson in the Qualifying of statements. Does the council tell us how much profit, they have made? Perhaps the word 'surplus' would be a bet* ter word to these guardians of, the peoples welfare. It is obvious to any progressive person that where an account shows good, that some of the profits should be returned to the consumers by the j way of a bonus—large discount rates or a reduction in the existing basic rates. It is up to the council for the benefit of the consumers to devise other means of controlling the use of electricity which everyone understands is in short supply. One would think when we look at the increased rates, that the coun-> cil were following the way of private enterprise whereby goods are .sold for profit. Perhaps the council are using the electricity account as a minor general fund. Who knows? , r have heard, although I cannot ■ prove it, that had the council amalgamated with the Power Board in the supply of electricity, the cost to the consumer would have been less. Can the council, through the press give us some informaion upon this? I appeal to all consumers to voice* their protest to the council by letter or postcard. Do not sit, back in apathy—you have a right to uro? test, lets see you use it. Yours etc., J. DITCHFIELD.