ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 5, 26 June 1930, Page 6

ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

A meeting of the Mutt Valley L'k'otrii Power Board was held on Thursday. There were present, Mr E. Wimiir-y (chairman) ana Messrs J. W. MeEwan, A. Anderson, A. J. Hobbs, A. W. Press, A. Walker, W. H. P. Barber, A. J. Me-. Curdy. Leave of absence was granted to Mr L. Stewart. Accounts amounting to £12,098/17/11 were passed for payment. FAULTS. Several faults occurred during the period. Mr Walker stated that the light had failed on several occasions at Eastbourne. Mr Hollands said that after "southerly busters/ J there was always a likelihood of faults occurring on electric lines exposed to the action of salt spray, which had great powers of resistance, giving a partial flow to earth. COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS INCREASE IjST COST OF CURRENT .Mr McEwan said he had received several complaints from consumers that their electric lighting accounts were more .this year than for the same period iast year. ~ . Several members also said that their accounts had been higher, one member stating that his account for this month was 11/4 - compared with 9/8 for the corresponding month last year. Mr Anderson said that the position as he saw it was that the price of current had been reduced to the Tninrmynn consumer, increased to the average consumer, or { ' midlle-man " who was in the majority, and reciiiced again to the big consumer. Mr Hollands1 said he had investigated a lot of cases where the accounts were higher and he had found that the consumer did not take into account of what was being used by increased'power lights, bulbs that were oJd and' past their usefulness and electric wireless setSj wliich brought up the revenue of the board considerably as an electric wireless set would use from six to eight units of current per month. Then again electric light bulbs had a limited life onty, and if they were burned, beyond that time they would consume about twice as'Umch current as they, ought. If .a bulb waV too hot to handle it hau outlived, its life, and should, be changed. Consumers were liable to forget that all this and in:. creases, in eiectrjcal apparatus in the home increases the consumption. There was a natural increase in electricity in eve^p home. ' ~ - TENDERERS'SURETIES The Engineer-General Manager reported that the successful tenderer for the extensions to workshop and newgarage has signed up and ther necessary documents, together with the names of sureties were tabled for approval.' Mr Anderson consiccered that the asking for sureties was most unusual and for a contractor to be called upon to go round looking for sureties seemed : like querying his ereait. -.., Mr McEwan said it was often done, especially on contracts over £500. . ::', Mr Hollands stated that it had always been his practice to have such.sureties. : ' ..-...-. .-■ '' ' ..•': The chairman said that such a course was not unusual in'public body contracts. !, The Engineer-General Manager?s action was approved. CUTTING OFF OF CURRENT CONSUMERS IN ARREARS ' 'NO DISCRIMINATION SHOWN Mr Walker asked whether any discrimination was being shown when cutting ' off the power to consumers who were in arrears. Opinions of such a nature had been expressed in Eastbourne and he raised the question as it was a matter of grave concern. Mr McCurdy stated emphatically that absolutely no discrimination %ad been shown." Mr Walker said he was not reflecting on the management, but as, the matter had been raised he considered that he should raise the point. Mr Hollands said 4he could not imagine such a thing happening. He could assure the Board that there was no discrimination^ and he would certainly like to know of a definite case where discrimination is suggested, so that he could have it investigated. No consumer, so far as he was aware, has been cut off the supply without him first being consulted and the case investigated. The regulation says that the consumer be cut. off. if two months in arrears, but in actual

practice that means about three months. -<* Mr McEwan suggested that a good way of dealing with consumers who were in arrears would be to instal slot meters. Mr Hollands: That is already being done. SIR THOMAS WILFORD Mr McEwan moved that this Board send a letter of congratulation to the late member of the district, Sir Thomas Wilf old on his knighthood. He considered that by the length of service that had been rendered to this odsti'iet and to the ■State by Sir Thomas, and the high position he had now, thaE of High Commissioner, he had earned any honour the King might bestow on him. Mr Hobbs in seconding the motion endorsed Mr McEwan's remarks, and stated that Sir Thomas had done a great deal for this district. Mr Barber said it was pleasing to know that a boy born in the district had risen to the high position of High Commissioner and now to Sir Thomas Wflfoi'd., There was no doubt in his mind that Sir Thomas would ' carry out his duties with exceptional ability. Mr McCurdy suggested that the letter of congratulation be sent from the Board building -which was originally Sir Thomas's own. home. The motion was carried unanimously.