POWER BOARDS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 125, 24 February 1928, Page 15

POWER BOARDS

VALUABLE WORK AHEAD CENTRAL OFFICE ESSENTIAL The secretaries of the power boards of New Zealand continued their annual conference at the City Council Chamber yesterday. “Our association, in order to carry out its activities/ - ’ said the chairman (Mr. C. Campbell), of Southland, “might be made somewhat more definite and clear-cut, and there might be some advantages in our discussing the position from the point of view of a consolidation which would tend to avoid a duplication of work and a loss of time at conferences. The association has undoubtedly done much good, but there is a fairly general opinion expressed that the need for a definite organisation on different lines is with us, and that the position should be considered, it looks to me as though the establishment of a central office acquainted with the practical aspects of power board work is the first essential. However, the conference can look into the matter from all angles. That there are possibilities ahead for doing valuable work is, i think, recognised by all who are acquainted with power board matters. “Under the electrical supply regulations, 1927/ J proceeded the chairman, “Regulation 209 makes it compulsory on the power boards and other li cen " sees to test an installation free of cost after the contractor has notified the board that the work of wiring is finish- , ed. Regulation 214 (1) requires the boards to make five-yearly tests of all installations. The latter regulation is going to cost the boards of New Zealand some thousands of pounds annually. With a view to bringing the matter before the conference I asked all boards and supply authorities incorporated with our association to prepare an estimate oi their expected annua] cost in this connection and to send same to me borne 21 replies were received. The figures supplied to me show that the annual cost to these 21 boards will run into no less a sum than It is safe to I estimate, therefore, that taking all boards and supply authorities into account the accumulated cost of carrying out free tests under the regulations referred to herein will involve <£20,000 I yearly. In some oases, at least, the

cost of this work of inspection (including travelling expenses) will bo a burden on the licensee, whereas if it were spread over the board’s consumers as a whole the cost to each consumer would only amount to a shilling or two a year, 1 therefore propose to ask the conference to agree to make representations urging that tho following words be added to Regulation 211 (1): ‘there may be collected from consumers, towards tho cost of inspections earned out under this regulation, an annual fee not exceeding 2s. 6d. per consumer.’ ” The chairman’s suggestion was approved. Election of Officers.

The election of officers resulted as follows—Chairman, Mr. C. Dash (South Canterbury); secretary, Mr. J. Deniord (South Canterbury); executive. Messrs. A. M. Owen (Christchurch), D. McArthur (Te Awamutu), G. Brown (Wairarapa), K. W. Eglinton (Manawatu), and N.’ M. Speer (Auckland). Appreciative reference was made to the manner in which Mr. Campbell had carried out tho duties of chaiiman of the secretaries’ committee during the past year, and, on behalf of the delegates," Mr. C. Dash presented Mr. Campbell ’with a silver cigarette c’se. The conference concluded ■ ith coeeis for the retiring chairman.