POWER BOARD LOAN.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4972, 10 May 1926, Page 3

POWER BOARD LOAN.

REVIEW OF PAST OPERATIONS. ADDRESS AT PAEROA. The chairman of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board (Mr F. HClaxton) accompanied by the chief engineer (Mr N. G. McLeod) and officials, of the board, addressed a small attendance of ratepayers at the Soldier's,’ Club, Paeroa, on Saturday night. His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. Marsahll) presided, and explained that .the board’s officials were there to explain the working of .the board and to impress upon the meeting the need for raising a further loan of £150,000 for extending reticulation to areas not yet served with electric power. The poll would be held on Wednesday next, a,nd it was fitting that the ratepayers should receive all available information relative to the operations- of the board since its inception in January, 1920, and its proposals Ter the future. The Mayor said that it would be .the last opportunity of meeting Mr Claxton, who had had a long and successful career as head of a large enterprise, as he was retiring from the board at the end of the month.

Commencing his address, which was on the lines of addresses delivered on the Hauraki Pla,ins during the week, a full report of which was published in the “Gazette” on Friday last, Mr Claxton said that judging by the sparse attendance, Saturday was not a suitable night to address a, meeting at Paeroa, but the selection of that evening could not be avoided owing to the number of centres to be addressed in a limited time. After fully reviewing the operations of the beard since its inception, and instancing development work which it was proposed to put in hand If the loan was carried, Mr Claxton called on Mr F„ E. Flatt, Paeroa Borough representative on the board, to address the meeting.

Mr Flatt generally endorsed the. remarks of. the previous speaker, and isaid that the board ,wa,s, well run, and nothing had been left to chance. The policy of not reticulating any area unless it could show the necessary return of 12% per cent., plus; the. cost of power, had been rigidly maintained. The trading department had been run for the benefit df the. people, and it ha,d amply justified itself, as evidenced. by the turnover, .which had been substantiated by the reports of two distinct opinions of outside experts. The board’s, policy wais: to make its operations pay, and in that respect- he claimed the administra.tion had been successful. Although the board had passed through a critical period it was now on a sound business footing. There had. been opposition among the board members, but su'ch opposition had become obscured in their endeavours to give service and satisfaction on an equitable'basis. In soliciting support for the loan Mr Flatt asked the meeting to help those outside ot the reticulated areas. He. felt quite satisfied . that so long as the board continued its past policy of cautious development it would pay its; way. and confer inestimable benefits on hundreds of people.

' NON-CONSUUMEIRS’ RATE. - Replying to Mr R. .Waddingham, Mr Claxton said that the total revenue derived to date from the non-,con-sumers’ rate was £1279 out df £4040' levied. In striking the rate it was obvious that mistakes had been made. For instance, some of the areas over which .the rate had been struck had no subdivisions, and adjustments had to be made. Of the outstanding portion of the rate, such balance would have to be compulsiorily collected. Up to the present the board ha : d not taken action against defaulters. The rate would not be struck during the current, year, or 1927, and in all probability not again.

Asked if he thought the non-con-sumers’ rate was a fair means df raising revenue, Mr Claxton said that he thought the principle was absolutely right, but there had been many anomalies. In the first place, the minimum rate of £1 a section wats absurdly high. The speaker claimed that he had done more than a,ny other man in New Zealand to have the rate reduced per section. He had brought the matter before the South Auckland and also thei Dominion Boards’ conferences, and had waited on the Prime Minister, advocating legislation for a reduction.

REDUCTION OF CHARGES. In reply to a questioner Mr Claxton said that there was no chance at present of reducing the cost of electricity to town consumeii''. The Government had such heavy overhead expenses-, including the- development at headworks, interest and sinking fund, that it looked as if it intended to .Consolidate its position before there would be a,ny chance of a reduction on bulk pojver charges,

TOWN V. COUNTRY. Mr F. G. Otter asked if the chairman could state the per'centag-e of po.wer supplied to the farming community as against the towns, and the relative return of income from eachMr Claxton'said .that he. could not quote the exact figures off-ha,nd.

Mr N. G. McLeod, explained .that the farming areas consumed a slightly larger load, for which the revenue return was greater. The propotion was about three-fifths-. Flaxmills were included' in the town area load. THANKS AND CONFIDENCE 1 .

Mr W. H. Taylor thanked the chairman for his interesting and instructive address. He said that a debt of gratitude was, due to Mr Claxton for the capable manner in which he had handled the board’s affairs-, and the ratepayers ha,d good reason to be thankful that the affairs of the board were on such a splendid footing. He moved-.a hearty - vote of thanks to Mr Claxton, and trusted th.a.t Wednesday’s poll would be successful. Seconded by Mr Waddingham. In putting the resolution the Mayor extended his congratulations to Mr Claxton, and said that it was to be regretted that he was relinquishing the chairmanship. The success attained by the boa ( rd wats due, in a

large measure, to th© sound judgment and untiring efforts of Mr Claxton, The resolution was carried with acclamation. In a,cknowledigng the resolution Mr Claxton said he had -high ideals as ,to the duties of citizenship, and had made an honest endeavour to perform a public service faithfully and Well. New Zealand was particularly fortunate in regard to hydro-electri'city, and a man would be deficient in common sense If he did not ava,il himself of the opportunity to assist in keeping money in the country to develop its, national resources. The primary industry—butter-fat—had ,to be produced in the country, which had not the many advantages; ofi a town. The standard of living in town's, had been raised, and it. was reasonable that conditions in the country should be improved. The hard times and drudgery of the former generation were passed, and much cSB the dreariness and hard, work in the country had been eliminated! by the advent of hydro-electricity. The speaker said that he\ felt pleased and thankful to have been able to take part in* and assist with the new order of things. He was particularly proud of the resolution that had been passed, and it was a tribute to the, fair-minded people of Paeroa, whom he was prepared to admit had been “hard hit” by the non-consumers’ rate. Every statute hit some section of the community.

A hearty vote, of .thanks; to the Mayor for presiding terminated the meeting.