NON-CONSUMERS’ RATE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4962, 16 April 1926, Page 2

NON-CONSUMERS’ RATE.

PROTEST FROM WAIHI BOROUGH. „ POSITION AT WAIKINO.Tlie vexed question ,of the collection of the non-cons timers’ rate was again brought before .the Thames, Valley Electric Power Board at Its ’meeting at Te Aroha on Tuesday. The matter was introduced by .a communication received from \ the .Waihi Gold Mining Company which referred to the demands. ma,de for payment of a non-consumers’ rate, on various sections at Waikino. It was’ pointed but'that residences on six of the sites were, lighted with power from Horahora, being part of the power supplied to the company in accordance with an agreement with the Public Works Department for the sale and purchase of the Horahora plant, and the company did not think the rate should apply .to such. The. position at Waikino was. probably unique, arid did not exist anywhere else in the Dominion. It' wajs hoped that , the board would take the view that’ 1 the charge on the six sites referred to was, hardly equitable under the,, circumstances. If the company was generating its own current and supplying it to those residences the position' would be quite different. It was stated that it would probably riot have enters, ed the minds of anyone when the availability rate had been given legal; sanction that a customer, might be penalised for not taking through a power board current which he' had previously contracted for direct-with the Government. The chairman (Mr F. H. Claxton)’ said that there were the six residences, and the Waihi Borough Council paid the authority, hut the. boa.rd had no agreement' with the Waihi Gold Mining Co. ■ ‘ Mr F. E. Flatt pointed out that Waikino had been receiving power for many years. Mr W. E. G. Willy remarked that the board received no value because of that fact. On the recommendation of -the chairman it was decided to allow matter to stand over for a month;? pending further inquiry.