POWER BOARD MEETING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4570, 30 May 1923, Page 1

POWER BOARD MEETING.

A WORKS COMMITTEE MOOTED. NOT FAVOURED BY BOARD. At the meeting of the Thames Valley Power Board on Thursday last Mr Price said that he was of the opinion that a works committee should be set up. He considered that a. works committee could relieve the manager of a great deal of detail work that was thrown on him. Also such a committee would gain a closer and more intimate knowledge of the Board’s works. Mr C. A. Arthur said that the monthly meetings- did not give the members sufficient information as tc the working of the Board’s operations. He thought, members from each main area should be a sub-committee of works. The Power Board was not only an administrative body, but it was a works body. Mir Flatt considered that the idea was worthy of; consideration. He favoured a works committee of three members. The engineers submitted their report monthly, but apart from those reports the members gained no closer information of the operations of the Board. He then moved that a works committee consisting of three members be formed,, and that it meet each month and submit its report. Mr J. Pohlen said he did not favour the motion. He thought that such a committee would only clash with the working of the engineers. The cost of travelling for such a committee would be very heavy indeed. He thought that the Board could quite well carry on under its present arrangements. Mr Thomas said he thought that it would be a better arrangement for the members of . each district to meet the Board’s engineers and officials whenever they were in any particular district. The member could then accompany them round the district and see for himself what was being done.

Mr Gauvain thought that a works committee would be cumbersome and expensive,. The members; were familiar with their own districts, and he considered that they should be the better judges of the requirements of their own districts. He did not think that any of the work would be lifted from the shoulders of the manager. Mr Willy asked who was carrying on during the absence of the matiager.

The chairman stated that Mr Sprague would be away for five weeks, and during that time Mr G. A. Bush would be in charge, and he (the chairman) would visit the office regularly. Mr Howie thought that at the members of the Board were not electrical experts it would be far better for them to investigate matters individually in their own districts as occasion arose. They could then report direct to the engineers. Messrs Anderson, Strange, and McCormick spoke against the resolution on the grounds of expense. They were in favour of each member investigating affairs in his own area and consulting direct with the engineers. The Chairman said that he agreed with the objects of the resolution up to a certain point. He could not see how any good purpose could be served, however, for the reason that the sub-committee already in existence not only dealt with matters affecting finance, but with all matters of importance. He moved as an amendment that the finance committee be increased by one member,! thereby giving the Matamata area a voice in the working of the committee. Mr Grace said that he was in favour of a works committee being formed on the lines suggested by Mr Arthur. lit reply Mr Flatt said that he considered that too much was being made out of the fact, that the Board’s area was a large one, and that travelling was t.oo expensive. His intention in moving the motion to create a works committee who could discuss matters with the engineers and various foremen was that such a committee could go thoroughly into the estimates supplied by the engineers of each section of the work approved of by the Board. On the completion of such sections a comparison could be made by the works committee between the engineers’ estimate and the actual cost as shown by the manager’s records. In his opinion a visit to the scene of the work would be necessary by the works committee' only when some extraordinary position arose. He drew the attention of the members! to the fact that although the Board’s engineers had been highly satisfactory and capable in every respect their work would be completed, as far as the Board was concerned, with the final expenditure of the loan money, which would probably be in another twelve months’ time. Should the Board then decide to engage a resident engineer a works committee would be necessary. He thought it would be a good policy to elect one now. There being no further speakers, the chairman’s amendment was put and carried. In accordance with the provisions of the amendment Mr J. Price was elected as the additional member of the special finance and executive committee.