POWER DISTRIBUTION

Chronicle (Levin), 26 June 1946, Page 4

POWER DISTRIBUTION

Horowhenua Board Meets A meeting of the Horowhenua^ Electric Power board was held in" Levin yesterday morning. Mr. G. A. Monk presided, and also present were Messr's. C. S. Keedwell, F. W. * Vickerman, J. -H. P. Liggins. R. R. Lind, R. O. Hornblow, W. E. Barber ,and" General R. Young, . with Messrs. R. A. Frederikson (manag-ing-secretary) and J. F. Bryce (engineer).™ Broadcasting Hours The Electric Power Board?' and Supply Authorities' Association, in a le.tter, infQrmed the bo.ard that' it had . requested the Minister of sBroadeastmg that broadcasting should ceafee at 10 p.m. every night, or otherwise that a reduction of 50 per cent. be made in broadcasting ■ hours. The chairman referred to the represpntations made in the past.by the board in regard to the matter. He considered that the Minister's reply received at' the last meeting was unsatisfactory. However, the association had now taken the matter up, and would put it before the Minister again. ih reply to a question by Mi\ Barber,* the engineer explained that when radio stations went on to emergency power, it meant that the station was using a small generating pian-t or storage batteries to carry on if the main power supply failed. The chairman pointed out- that the time when the greatest saving was possible was in the even-ing, although the common practice .of leaving wireless sets on, without listening to them, was a point which should be considered.

Cathedral Memorial A request by the chairman of the Mayor of Wellington's Cathedral Memorial Fund for a donation was declined. The chairman commented that although the project was a worthy one, it was more a case for individual support rather than for public bodies. Mr. Vickerman said that as a board the members were trustees to the cons.umers, and in that capacity could not authorise such donations. Mr. Barber supported Mr. Vickerman 's opinion. £60,000 Loan Autharised A letter from the secretary to the treasury, authorising the raising of a £60,000 loan by the board -was received without comment. Later in the meeting the manag-ing-secretary described the arrangements for tlie raising of the loan of £60,000, which was for new lines. The arrangements, which were for a 20-year term at 3i per cent., w.ere approved by the board. Reticulation of Sub-divisions The chairman suggested that where new sub-divisions were created within the district, a plan for their reticulation be prepared by the engineer and submitted to the board for consideration. Mr. Vickerman said that local bodies should be asked to forward plans of new sub-divisions to the board. The scheme would be qf great value to persons building, enabling them to have power installed with the least delay. A motion incorporating thes.e proposals was passed.