POWER BOARD.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19159, 16 November 1927, Page 14

POWER BOARD.

SPRINGS-ELLESMERE. The monthly meeting of the Springs-Elles-mere Electric Power Board was held at Leeston on Monday, when there were present: Messrs J. Cunningham (chairman), J. W. Kime, G. Maginness, and H. Neave. .. T !?o & on - Mr Williams, Minister for Public Works, replying to a letter from the iioard, stated that following a discussion with members of the Board recently in Wellington, it had been decidod that'the question of handing over supply to the Islington Freezing Works and, other large consumers at present supplied by the. Public Works Department, should be left over until after the conference ol local supply authorities, which was being called to discuss the whole question of power supply in the districts adjoining Christchureh. the Department's officers were endeavouring to arrange a suitable time andplace for the conference.'

Messrs Templin and Toogood, consulting electrical engineers, writing in reference to the proposed Conference, stated that some of the bodies licensed to distribute current had registered a protest against any powers they possessed being 4aken away. A letter was also received from the Distrut Electrical Engineer, Public Works Department, Christchureh; suggesting a date for the proposed conference of supply authorities. The conference was being called with a view to considering the formation of a Pow Board to cover the territory between the Waimakariri and Rakaia rivers. The invitation and particulars of the matters to be discussed would be sent direct by the Minister for Public Works.

On the motion of Messrs Maginness and Kime, it was decided to ask the. Minister for Public Works again to hand over the large consumers in the Board's district at present supplied/direct by the Public Works Department. The secretary was instructed to point out that the busy season with the freezing works would begin shortly; and that the Board wished to have the benefit of the full season's operations. Members were of the opinion. that, even if the forthcoming conference decided upon a merger, it would take some considerable time to give effect to the decision.

It was decided to send copies of the letter to Mr D. Jones, M.P., and to Messrs Templin and Toogood. Mr Maginness expressed the opinion that there would be no merger unless the Minister insisted upon it. The supply authorities would probably not agree to amalgamate, and the conference would prove abortive. It was agreed that the chairman should consult with members in the event of the proposed conference being called before the Board's next meeting. .The Chief Electrical Engineer. Public Works Department, Wellington, in acknowledging receipt of the Board's letter asking permission to increase the voltage on certain lines from 3300 to 6600, stated that existing conductors- could be' used. •

The necessary guarantee having been given, an application for supply of current to White's property, Lakeside, was granted. The Malvern Power Board wrote that the Public Works Department had forwarded to it a revised form of supply agreement which embodied certain minimum charges per- annum for each of.the five years of the agreement, which was ante-dated to April Ist of this year. Assuming that the Springs-Elles-mere Board had received a similar agreement, it was enquired whether the Board would be prepared to join in a united protest by all supply authorities supplied from the Lake Coleridge scheme, with the exception of the Christchureh City Council. The Malvern Board objected particularly to the • little margin that existed between. the minimum and the maximum demand which could... be secured from tho Department. . In explanation the Department had stated that if power was reserved for a local body it should be prepared to pay' for the power, whether it was made use of or not. This would be quite a reasonable argument if the Department intended to increase the capacity of its generating stations in accordance, with the promises given in the Various agreements, but it was understood that no further station capacity would be available until.the Kurow scheme was developed.* It v was contended that if the Department were prepared to increase the capacity of Coleridge against existing revenue possibilities, it should be prepared to continue its trading with the same element of risk. It was decided to support the Malvern Board in its protest. . The engineer outlined the arrangement he proposed to make with the Canterbury Jockey Club for the supply of current for water pumping, lighting, and working the totalizator. This was approved by the Board. A statement of income and expenditure for the half-year ended September DOth indicated a steadv improvement in the financial position. Members considered that the revenue would shortly be more than sufficient to meet the expenditure and provide for reasonable depreciation.