POWER SUPPLY

Hokitika Guardian, 24 April 1933, Page 6

POWER SUPPLY

WAITEMATA BOARD'S DECISIONS

(Per Press Association — Uopymht.) -Hh '

AUCKLAND, April 24

“Our charges 'lor e.lectl-ieity' afOcUow the lowest in the.' Dominion," stiff T-the chairman -of tiiuv; \\ a item a til Lower Board (Mr Leighton), in.. announcing to-day tile Boards decisi-')u,vtrt''rediue further the charges tami-be extoUt'-of ’£7,230; per annum. ‘ ninif- 1

Among other reductions aie ‘.at-.cut in the, fixed annual -charge/.of 4 ,£8, less 20 per cent., to £0 lets 20. .per cent. in each casCj plus olio penny, per unit for lighting, (looking and heating, and -remission of flut- rate on milking motors ciuring May itnd Hept-ember, as well as in June, July and August. Although all consumers using lews than <~>~ monthly are a dthd loss, the Board has also decided to reduce the Js minimum tj -Is ..4-1 20, per cent. .. .r . ;

“In normal times,“\.siiid ,Mr Leighton, “tlie Board should not interfere faith the liesic rate on principal,' hut it- is not much u-e talking pvimipals to-day, when man v arc at their wits ends to find a .shilling, and we are endeavouring t.o keep' everyone connected to the system. This reduction means that the accounts of- consumers! i.u poorest circumstances will be reduced to 3k tkl per month Ju February the Auditor- General instructed Wr.iteinata Power Board that under-the provisions of N.S.W. Interest Reduction Act, any payments made without deducting 22V per cent, of all interest wouldbo.•.contrary to law. .. ,'i. C 0.7

The Board, having-- loans GaHm the Au-*ralinn IMutnunl provident -Society, placed in a suspense.' amumt..the «nm of £3,881. wlii-ch hod Leena,u,d.c-; ducted from the interest -due. up to March 31. 1933, its reason Aiping-.-tlint. •n test case of the Wanganin-Rangi.tikci Power Board against A.M.P. is.-.pciid-

The Board has now decided to transfer the money, to the revenue account. The manager expressed the view that, even if pending notion were decided against local bodies.; the New Zealand Government- would pass retrospective legislation.

The chairman.said that. nocor'Rwr to |law:.,-.giioney could, .no longer, he held iin the suspense aeeouht. Tf .the. court ihvter def i led. ..ag-ain.vt tbp--Board reiqp,...i.q charges' Iwhipß‘#he: Board iapproved to-WxY. Thqy-rvi-oid-t} have to, •jlie c paid- out,.-of -the rescilesT