ELECTRIC POWER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4822, 15 April 1925, Page 1

ELECTRIC POWER.

THAMES VALLEY BOARD. MEETING AT TE AROHA. The regular meeting of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board was held in Te Aroh,a yesterday, Mr F. H. Claxton (chairman) presiding over the following: Messrs P. Grace, F. E. Flatt. W. E. G. Willy, G. Howie, .1. PohJen, J. AV. McCormick, J. Price, J. W. Anderson, J. B. Thomas, F. M. Strange, C. A. Arthur, and the secre-tary-manager (Mr R. Sprague) and the engineer (Messrs Gauvain and McLeod). ACCOUNTS. Accounts totalling £17,895 6s 9d or. the power fund account and £13,246 7ls lid on the loan account were passed for payment. RECORDING OF VOTES. Mr J. Price suggested an amendment to the standing order. He considered that when a show of hands was taken on a proposal the votes, of the members against the proposal should be recorded. This, he contended, was a division. The chairman said that there was no instance in the'board’s proceedings where a vote was recorded against a proposal unless when requested. .Mr F. E. Flatt thought that if a division was required a member could ask for it. Mr Price contended that when the chairman called for a show of hands that constituted a division. - Mr F. M. Strange said it was only for the chairman to make quite sure of his ground. Mr Flatt: “T think the simplest way is, if anyone wants the votes recorded to ask for a division.” WAIHI SUPPLY. The district electrical engineer, Hamilton, wrote advising that authoritv had been obtained for the board to tap the Waikino-W.aihl 11,000-volt line at a point on the Grand Junction Company’s line about ten chains from the main line. By so doing power could be supplied at the rate) of one penny a unit from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m„ and one halfpenny a unit, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The rate quoted was for power taken at 11,000 volts. and was subject to a minimum charge of £lO a month, and sufficient consumption of power to guarantee a return of £5 a month on the low rate. The board was asked to supply particulars at the end of the quarter concerning the number of units used and an estimate of the number used at the lower r.ate. To MT Flatt the engineer said that under the conditions the £lO minimum was likely to be a hardship. The position had been explained to the department, but no reply had yet been received. GOVERNMENT CHARGESThe Hon. Minister for Public Works wrote as follows :— “I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of January 31 in which you make the suggestion that oUr charges should be based on the maximum demand occurring between 4.3‘> p.m. and 9.30 p.m. only I have noted the difficulty you are experiencing in obtaining the flaxmills and quarries owing to their peak to some extent overlapping your present milking load peak. This is certainly unfortunate, and although you may hope to do a great deal of adjustment of charges at different hours it will, of course, be impossible .and unreasonable to expect the industry to completely reorganise its working methods io facilitate the power supply portion of the business. The adjustments required, however, in the particular cases you are requiring, do not appear to me to be insuperable, and it would appear that some arrangement can surely be come to between your board and its prospective consumers which will overcome the difficulty. “I regret that I cannot see my way clear to adjust our method of charging in the way you suggest. Both on our Horahora plant and at Lake Coleridge we cannot prophesy that the time of the peak load will be between any particular few hours, as in both stations it has varied on different occasions to any time between 8.30 a.m. and 8.30 p.m. It would appear to me that your suggestion, besides probably resulting in a considerable loss of revenue to us, would nedd to be so continually adjusted to suit particular industries that it would be quite unworkable.” Mr Flatt considered that the position was not satisfactory. The chairman stated that, the engineer was going further into the matter. ELECTRIC OVENS. The Chief Engineer, Public Works Department, acknowledged the board’s request that electric ranges be added to the seventh schedule of the Chattels Transfer Act, 1924. The Justice Department, which administered the Act, was already dealing with similar applications, and the board’s letter had been forwarded to that department. 'j he chairman said that the matter referred to the board financing consumers in the purchase of electric stoves.

INSTALLATION OF TELEPHONE. The Waihi Borough Council wrote suggesting that the board should instal -i telephone in the troubleman’s residence.—Referred to engineer. REQUEST FOR STOVE.

The Morrinsville School Committee requested the board to instal free of cost to the committee an electric cooking stove in the new manual and technical school. It tyas considered that this 'votild not only be a payable proposition to the board but a good adveitiseinent as well. Mr Thornes said that he thought

concessions should be given to uanual schools. ili< chairman said it had luen agveel that in the event of the Education Hoard not paying tor power, rather than retard manual instructi'i'i tiie board would lie willing to suppiv power at a nominal rate for two years. Mr Flatt contended that all schools should ho assisted liberally by the board, as it was a means of educating children in t.lie use of electric stoves. The matter was re Purred back fo the *ii anec committee for a report. WINTER SHOW EXHIBIT. The Central Electric Power Board wrote suggesting that tiie hoard, unite widi them hi meeting the; expense of an exhibit at the Waikato Winter Show. Tho. whole cost lust year had been borne by the Central Board, and the cost ’this year should not exceed JIS I '. No exhibit would be made this year unless neighbouring hoards assisted.

It was resolved not to take part in any s ich display.

NEW LINES. The Matamata County Council

wioto stating that it was considered that any difficulty in the matter of erecting new linens could easily be overcome if the board’s officers would notify the county engineers of the contemplated work. The officer would inform the board’s officer of (1) possible interference with road traffic and (2) possible interference with contemplated road work. An instance of the advisability of such was exemplified some months ago when the linesman, instead of erecting the poles 12ft from'the, fence line was requested to get in closer. It suited the depari meat and saved considerable inconvenience to the council ; (3) the qucsioii of suitability of road to nt,and the carriage of poles along the various routes ; cases are on record of sledging over wet clay roads, resulting Pi making such roads impassable. After quoting instances vhere the work would interfere with the council's roading operations the letter continued that under the circumstances it «•?, ii'iceissary that future works in t'w maitcr of placing poles along roids in that county would not be undortken without notifying the council's engineer.

.Mr Flatt contended that local bodies had always been notified of the board’s intentions,

The matter was referred to the engineer.

In reply to Mr Howie the engineer said that the engineer of the county

concerned, or failing him the riidti’J member, was always consulted.

RENT OF COTTAGES

The chairman considered that the rent charged for, the board’s troublemen’s cottages would not cover the cost of the outlay, and he suggested that the board follow the example set by the railway Department and charge, as rent, a day's wages each week.

Mr Thcmius moved that tiie rent b? £l. a week, but it was eventually decided to charge the occupiers rent to tiie extent of one-sixth of a week's wages. WATER HEATERS. Mr Anderson said that water heaters were being used also as small stoves, and. he wanted to know if this was permissible. It was stated that private firms cor.verted the heaters into stoves and were using them on the charges for water heaters, but it was difficult for the board to prevent this. Inspectors were now going round to inquire into the matter, Mr Anderson said that, many people were treting it as a great joke. Mr Price thought that the board shotil' 1 . have the same power in this respect as in the case of a. man interfering with a meter and take offenders to court. Mr Sprague: It's stealing electricity. There's? no doubt about it, Mr Arthur moved that circulars be sent to various consumers setting but exactly what could be used on a hot point, and for any infringements prosecutions would result. Mr McLeod said that there was a device which would cut off the current after a certain amoum had been used. Jeh motion to issue warning circular 1 ; was carried. ANNUAL MEETING. The chairman remarked that that meeting would be the last before the eleciton of borough representatives to the board. Air Flatt: Then some of uis had belter say good-bye. The chairman added that the annual election of chairman would also take plaee in .May, and he proposed holding the May meeting at the usual time, ill cm holding an ordinary meeting on the same date, May 26, and eliminate the ordinary June meeting. These (suggestions were adoptewd. FINANCE REPORT. The following recommendations of the special finance committee were adopted :— Tbi t the action of engineer in calling tenders for three synchronous condensers be approved. That tenders be called for 100 time switches. That Air J. Wilison be appointed assistant engineer at a salary of £4OO a year, increasing to £4.60 in two annual increments of £3O, and that Afv Fielder be appointed to the position of distributing engineer at a salary of £384 per annum, increasing to £432 in two annual increments of £24 each. That a telephone be. installed in each residence, and also that a car be pi.i chased for the distributing engineer.

That electricity be supplied free for experiment in the treatment of ensligc, conditionally upon the farmer suggesting the experiment supplying al) the appliances required and giving an undertaking indemnifying "he board against any liability. That the charge for water heaters be 17s 6d per watt per annum, less 10 per cent, if paid on or before the 20th of month following rendition of account, with a minimum charge of £3 IO:: a year ; the board to provide and maintain the necessary time switch.