CHANGE OF CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 77, 28 September 1933, Page 5

CHANGE OF CONTROL

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

POWER BOARDS' OPINION

The principle of.having the Dominion's hydro-electrical undertakings controlled by expert commissioners was affirmed-by'the'-Power Boards' Conference yesterday 'afternoon.

Mr. W. J. Holdsworth (Auckland) said ho believed that many of tho .anomalies existing throughout New Zealand at present could bo rectified with the proposed system of control. Ho did not think the electrical undertaking should be a side-line of the Public Works Department, and if they were-'wise they would size up the whole position and. go thoroughly into the matter of improving the undertaking generally. They had been told that costs must be reduced, and that £■40,000,000-was invested in the.industry; therefore, it was time to review the situation and reap the benefit of what; the- association had been doing during the last few years. Without proper control that could not be done. Supporting the. proposal,' .Mr. A., C, Eussell. (Hawke's ,Bay) said that it was not proposed'to deprive the boards of thoir powers, but that' experts should control the undertaking and reticulation. More' economic handling would' result, and cheaper electricity would increaso the demand, for electricity.' ;_:", '

Mr. C. E.'Smith (Otago) said; that the Minister of 'Public Works himself had: admitted that he knew very little about the subject. The.proposal meant that control of the industry would be given to, men who did i know about, it. It was stated .'that the proposal was not ■ intended'to express dissatisfaction with the Department, whose relations with the power boards and supply authorities. had always been of a very friendly, and helpful nature.

■Mr. F. B. Ball (Poverty Bay) said that he had. been a-member of a power board for ten years, and if a body of commissioners could" exercise better control than .* at present hg. for one would-be quite willing to drop out of the business. More efficiency was desirable, and .the appointment of commissioners, would be the first step in that direction.

Mr. J. Dean (Franklin), emphasised that there was no grievance against the Department, and said it would be agreed that Mr. F. T. M. Kissel, Chief Electrical Engineer, should be one of the- commissioners.