INSTALLING MOTORS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4424, 7 June 1922, Page 2

INSTALLING MOTORS.

THE COST OBJECTED TO. At the meeting of the Power Boar.] yesterday Mr. J. Rae, Eastport RoadJ waited on the Board and pointed.out that the cost of installing motors was too high to warrant a change-over from benzine, in cases where small herds were milked. He suggested that an altered scale of charges bd brought into operation to induce the small farmer to use electric power; The minimuni charge of £2l was prohibitive. The engineer explained that the £2l was charged the Boarid by the 'Department. He cqnterided that, elec-t tricity was cheaper than benzine for .he-ds of 20 to 30 cows, if costs an.l advantages were carefully checked.; Later on, if there are more consume ers per rmile, it will be possible to. reduce rates. Mr. Rae argued that the Board’s policy of passing by small farmery to supply larger users was wrong; / Mr. Gauvain suggested that small farmers in settled, districts should be prepared to pay a little bit more than expected to ensure the, service. The Government fixed the price at which it retailed, power to the Board. The chairman said the Board could not be expected to sell pbwer cheaper than the price at which it. purchases it from the Government. As a matter qf fact, the Government advanced the price 25 per cent, after the Board was constituted.

Mr. Pohlen suggested that the farmers should ask the Government to reduce the charges adding, that the General Elections are coming bn. Mr. Rae maintained that the policy was unfhir to the small farmers. The chairman informed Mr. Rae that there was no possibility of reducing the price for some time to come. Mr. Miller pointed out that (he increase from One farthing per lb of butter-fat to one-third af a penny only affected those farmers who supplied over 70001b->ofi butter-fat per season. ;* Mr, Arthur asked *rihy, if Mr. Rae's statement was correct, the line was taken along a road where only practically one in ten farmers were consumers. '• The engineer said the line was a main feeder line and It was-necessary to follow that route. There were five consumers on the line at present, with prospects of several more 'at an early date.