POWER BOARDS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1933, Page 3

POWER BOARDS

CONFERENCE AT WELLINGTON. (Per Pr?ss Association Copyright.) WELLINGTON, September 27. ' The president's .report presented at the conference of. delegates to the Electric Power Boards, and' -Supply Authorities Assooiat’pai of -New Zealand to-day stated that since last conference, the remits carried at the 1930 con fere.lee had been the subject of several deputations to t’ii Minister of Public W-orks, but no legislation had so far been brought down to give effect to them. As, however, the Government had now put into operation 'for the most part the-■ measures necessary to. give effect to its economic policy, the executive would continue to press fo-r legislation -on the lines of the recommendation, s of the conference. .With reference to Public Works Department’s charges for bulk supply, representations bad been m-ade • on several ocensiecs to the Minister on the- question of removing the differentia.; ante as between country and urban supply authorities. The Department, however, contended that it was justified in making this difference, the Supply Authorities themselves did- not charge their largo consumers at the same rate as the smaller, one. The question .of an all .rouiM -.reduction- in charges was also submitted, .but as against this the contention was that the far greater part of the Department's costs consisted of interest charges, in respect of which it obtained no relief. The executive a,t its last meeting " resolved that while the time might lie inopportune to press' for any reduction, the position might be met by crediting boards with the difference between £8 and £lO for the first 200 K.V.A. by way of .an augmentation of sinking or depreciation funds. This resolution was submitted to the Minister of Public Works for his consideration.

A deputation from the executive waited upon the Prime Minister at the end of last year upon ’ the subject of - the conversion io lower rates of interest of internal Power Board lirnrs. The deputation further urged the Government to consider whether an attempt should not be made to c<rn—H overseas loans, especially j.n view of the presence in London, of the then Minister of Finance. As regards internal loans, legislation had since been passed redwing rates of interest on existing securities, and providing for. conversion of the same at lower rates of interest

The Prime Minister in hit? reply stated that no provision could - then- he to convert Jbudon loans which had not then nptured. and referred to the embargo placed by the Rrttsh - (JVtisnry on further issues pending completion of the British War Loan conversion. Ts 9 has;, however, *,prepared to forward higlslat'on providing for the carrying forward of accumulated .smk-:in<r-funds on the-renewal of loans, thus saving the exchange that' would other.wise be payable on the transmission of the ••sink”'a f’mds t-u - London. Provisions, to this effect were included ,in the Finance Act 1932 (No.. 2). There ere now 48 Power Boards rod s-moV authorities affiliated to the Association.

WELLINGTON. September 26. Contending at the Conference of Power Boards and Supply- Authorities Engineers to-day that money spent for such a puroose would constitute a fair claim on the highways fund for* a subsidy, Mr- H.-i F. T cogood . suggested that the time hod arrived for the scientific lighting of highways in New Zealand, partic’darly the illumination of certain puds ,of main ‘anuroaches to cities. His suggestion followed the reading of a paper on 'street lighting bv Mr~T. R . Temnl'm, of'Christchurch, who averted that, in the matter of p|,.net, Ihrhting, New Zealand was well behind the times. Tlvx conference heartily endorsed the views expressed by Mr Toogood.