ELECTRIC POWER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4826, 6 May 1925, Page 3

ELECTRIC POWER.

THAMES VALLEY BOARD. ■ . MEETING AT TE AROHA. The monthly meeting of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board whs held at Te Arolia yesterday, the chairman (Mr F. H. Claxtcn) presiding over the following:- Messrs P. Grace, W. E. G.. Willy, G. Howie, J. Poh.len, J. W. McCormick, J. Price J. W- Anderson, J. Thomas, F. MStrange, C. A. Arthur, the secretarymanager (Mr R. Sprague), and the resident engineer (Mr N. G. McLeod). DAMAGE TO ROOFS. Mr G. Howie drew attention to the fact that the board’s workmen were inclined to be careless when opening the roofs of residences when wiring wa- being carried out. He knew of instances where rbofs leaked after the men had completed wiring, and thought that more care should be exercised. The matter was referred to the engineer with a recommendation that wiremn be instructed to exercise' greater care in future. SUPPLY FOR WAIHJ. The Public Works Department asked for figures of the expected revenue in Waihi. The maximum charge oi £lb a month the letter stated, corresponded roughly to a demand of 10 k v.a., or 2400 units at Id—that is, 10 k.w, at 33 .1-3 load factor. The minimum charge was equivalent to a higher rate on a smaller demand than the above. In the case of Waihi it was thought there would be a revenue of £240 to the department apart from the minimum. Altering standard rates required a good deal of justification. and the first point that required to be shown was .that in this particular case the load would be so small that the minimum would mca»i some degree of hardship. The department wanted to know the board’s general practice, that was. the smallest demand at points of tapping the 11,000volt lines. . The engineer explained that whatever expenditure the board made a. payable revenue was expected, but. the department viewed the matter differently. If authority could be obtained the beard could tap the Grand Junction line and save the expense of erecting a section of 11,000-volt line. If this course could be adopted the chance of a hardship occurring on any section would be reduced to a minimum. The matter was referred to the engineer to go into with the department. RETURN OF CONSUMPTION. The Public Works Department forwarded a form to be filled in showing the unit consumption and the maximum k.w. occurring in connection with .the supply of the department to the board for the year ending March, 1925.—Referred to the engineer. ELECTION OF MEMBERS. Mr Willy asked under what authority a demand, was made for a deposit of £3 when a person was nominated as a representative on a power board. He understood that the returning officer had no authority to demand a deposit The manager said he believed that the demand was covered by the Municipal Elections and Polls Act, but he would look into the matter and advise Mr Willy. POWER FOR FLAXMILL. ,G Smerle, K.aihere, advised that it was not convenient for his flaxmill to start work at 7.30 a.nb_ and finish at 4.30 p.m., but he would be pleaded *f the board could arrange to supply power for the mill not later than August The chairman stated that the minimum charge and hours for taking power had "been submitted to the writer. and it was for him to accept or otherwise. ARREARS OF ACCOUNT. The Rising Sun Gold Mining Co., Ltd., wrote stating that the new company had been reigstered, and when the shares list closed bn May 7 it would be in a position to advise when arrears for electric current would be paid off. In a letter to the company the board’s manager pointed out that the arrears were large, dating back to the quarter ending September, 1924. Th<company had undertaken to pay £5O a week, but the payments had -not been kept up. ’ In view of the lenient treatment that had been extended a demand for a cheque within seven days was made. The matter was referred to the manager.' NON-CONSUMERS’ RATE. The following resolution was forwarded by the Hauraki Plains Chamber of Commerce, with a request that the board make a (statement on the matter: — “That this chamber protests to the Thames Valley Electric Power Board against the levying of the £1 minimum rate on separate sub-divisions occupied as one holding, and this chamber considers that such levy is contrary to the spirit of section 4, and in particular to sub-sectino 3 and 4 thereof of the Electric Power Boards Amendment Act, 1923.”

The chairman said that the chamber was bn the wrong track, as it had been stated over afid over again that the board did not levy on separate sub-divisions.

The manager was instructed to reply in detail.

CONFERENCE.

The Electric Power Board’s Association advised that the annual conference of delegates from affiliated boards and lighting authorities would be held during the first week in August next.. Remits for inclusion in the order paper should reach the secretary before May 31. CHARGE FOR MOTOR-

D Leach, Paeroa, wrote in connection with the charges levied on a 3-h.p. motor installed in his bakehouse and Bought a reduction on the minimum charge, for the reasons that the motor was- not In use during peak hours; the average time of running was 25 minutes a day ; In the process of dough-Hlxing the full load was on

had been installed ten weeks, .and though March was the busiest month of the year, the reading of the meter had shown. 51 units, equalling a cost of 15s, or £3 18s a year; on the board’s minimum charge the writerwould be paying £l9 a year, and he considered that a fair charge would be double the actual consumption, say £8 per anunm.

The chairman pointed out that if the writer would give an undertaking not to use the motor during peak hours the cost would be approximately £4 10s a year, or 2s 6d per h.p. a month. He did not favour any variation of the regulations, and did not like written guarantees from any consumer.

The engineer said that the motor could he controlled by a time switch, which would cost about £2O to instal. The board could instal the switch and charge a rental of £4 or £5. The chairman said he considered that Mr Leach was not suffering any hardship. It was decided to cancel the offer of the board which had been made some time ago. it was resolved that users of motors should have the option of being supplied with a time switch, to be installed by the board.electricity required. Mrs M. A. Cornea, Mataura Road, Waihi, wrote submitting the names of ten settlers on that road who were willing to take electricity for power and lighting if the board would erect the lines at a reasonable-cost and in time for the milking season. It was decided to make a canvass of the road and report the result to the next meeting. TAHUNA AREA. S. J. Phillips, Tahuna, wrote point; ing out that the board had erected poles on Tahuna Road as- far as Silcocks, and asked if the line could not be extended to his section on the main Tar.una-Patetonga road. He was anxious to secure power for his milking shed at the commencement of the season. It was stated that this line could not be made payable unless flaxmillers agreed to take power, and it was resolved to go on with the erection of the line when they did so. PURCHASE'OF SECTION. It was resolved to purchase a sec; tion with a 59ft frnotage from the Te Aroha Borough Council for the sum of £3OO. The chairman remarked that the board had had the use of the area for a number of years, and he strongly favoured its purchase. WAITAKARURU TELEPHONE. Mr Willy asked that the high tension telephone be extended to Waitakaruru before the coming milking season, otherwise the sc.ttlrs would be placed, at a seriqus disadvantage. In reply the engineer said that Waitakaruru would certainly receive si high tension telephone in due course, bu* he ways doubtful if it could be installed until towards the end of the year. ’ FINANCE REPORT. The report of the special finance coiomittee was adopted, and read as follows:— “We recommend that tenders for the purchase of. transformers and lightning arresters be called. “Tn connection with the accident on’ TVardvllle Road, we recommend that' the wireman in charge be suspended for one month for not making the line dead, and that any employee from this date not earning out the safety regultions will be instantly dismissed. Also, that in the case of any accidentthe engineer notify the nearest available member of the board when making, inquiries.” Accounts totalling £9378 6s 2d on the power fund and £9701 19s 7d on the loan account be passed for payment.