CONTINUED PROGRESS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 111, 27 May 1937, Page 3

CONTINUED PROGRESS

Our Owu Correspondent.

Wairoa Power Board's Surplus

From

WAIROA, Last Night. The largest surplus, £1132, ever shown by the Wairoa Power Board was reported to yesterday's annual meeting by the chairman, Mr C. V. Chamberlain, who expressed gratification at the continued progress oi the board's operations. "The year's working results in a credit balance of £1132 in the appropriation account, which will be transferred in further reduction of the accumulated deficit," said the chairman in his annual report. "This, I understand, is the largest surplus yet shown in. any one year of thei board's operations and the merabers are to be commended on their efforts in reducing the deficit by £878 over the previous year's figure. "The total amount paid by the Wairoa Borough Council on account of purchases of electricity was £4747, which leaves a balance for the year unpaid of £874. Taking into consideration £1103 paid by the borough in Agril, 1987, the total balance outstanding in the books is now £1432. The average price charged per unit, including pumpingi, works out at .59d per unit, as against .601d per unit last year for a supply of 2,143,120 unitis. The balance outstanding should be settled in the near future by arbitration as ordered by the Supreme Court. The special cbmmittee appointed " by the board . is making every endeavour to expedite the arbitration, thus, bringing this long-out-standing. matter to fiimlity. "The Pubjic Works Department, K.apuawhara, .the board! s second bulk consqmer, . received supply during part of the year, taking electricity to tlie value of £129,."

Removal of Rata Possible. The number of consumers supplied by the board at the end of this year was two bulk and 439 xetail consumers, -he added.. This was an increase of 45 retail consumers, as against au increase of-29 last year. The fujl benefit of tbe.increased numiDer of consumers connected to fhe board's lines undoubtedly result in! a further imprbvement in the . revenue of the present year. ... Mr Chamberlam expressed thanks to the . members of the board for their co-operation, and said.it must' be.gjratifyiriy to them . to see the continued propress of the board's operations and the possibility of the early removal of the deficiency, rate. . The board's appreciation was recorded also of the services of JMr J. G. Signall, the secretary, Mr Moore, his assistant and Mr Drewitt, the engineer, and his staff. The report was adopted. Mr E. H. Gleridiniug moved a yoto of congratulation to the chairman on the year's work. It had been a big struggle, and even n'ow he believed the estimates were on the conservative side. Mr D. D. Pryde moved, and Mr F. Steed seconded, that Mr Chamberlain, be re-elected chairman, and, there being no other nominations, Jie was declared elected. The chairman thanked the members for their -Tenewal of confidence, and said he noted with pleasure a large increase in the number of consumers. What had been 'accomplished was largely due to the co-operation of board members. % The followingj committees were elected: Finance, the chairman and Messrs Glendining, • Davey and Gillespie ; works, the chairman and Messrs Pryde and Corkill. Mr Glendining gave notice of a special meeting to deal with rating.