ELECTRICITY RATES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 89, 11 July 1944, Page 4

ELECTRICITY RATES

Sir,—l would like to draw attention to the practical application of the new electricity rates. The, council has since their earlier new rates, reduced the lightheat and range charges from 30 units at. 4%d to 25 units at 4%d. We must remember however that this is not a reduction of 5 units at 4.% d but only a reduction of 5 units at 2%di as the 5 units have still to he paid, for at 2d. This brings a grand total of reduction per month on the first new rates, or near enough * to 3d per week. The council must now be suffering from severe 'palpitation' after this act of 'phijlan-* thropy' with thte consumers money. But let us look at the practical application of the neiv water heating rates from the family man's point of view. First of all his wife has to keep the water heater going for the full 21 hour service in. order that sufficient hot water will be provided for family use. It being just not possible with a large family to cut down the. hours of use. I 1 have seen one bill where the hot water charge is by the unit and. find that the increased cost for the month is exactly 30 per cent. Now how did the council calculate that the increase would be approximately 20 per cent? What an approximation. The man with the large family it appears is compelled to pay this 30 per cent increase whether he likes it or not. What an incentive to parents to have larger families which we are told are most es-* sentlal to counteract the declining birth "rate. Increasing the population from a eugenic point of view appears to be quite in order. Major Leonard Dar-> win states that a family of four at least is necessary to ensure an. everr Increasing population. Two of which are necessary to replace the parents, the third to take the place of premature deaths by disease and, accident etc., and the fourth to ensure the desired population increase. The above sounds quite logical as far as it. goes, but where are the council earnestly endeavouring to ■-> alleviate the economic position of the family man? It is quite obvious that this has never occurred to them simply because most, if not all of them, are in an economic position to treat this 30 per cent rise with Impunity. ' ' ' Now the council will no doubt say that it is the price, tribunal to blame for these anomalies. This is • only evading the issue as there is still the light,, heat and range account ■ from which deductions could be made. It would appear that the council' were in favour of this rise in water heating rate when they applied to tne Price Tribunal for the. higher rate. Other electricity distributors havereduced their rates this year, why not the Borough Council? They are in a sound financial position 1 Yours etc., J. DITCHFIELD, Sec. Whakatane Branch N.Z.L.P.