POWER BOARD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4981, 31 May 1926, Page 4

POWER BOARD.

MEETING OF BOARD. ANNUAL AND GENERAL. The. Thames Valley Power Board met at Te Aroha ,on Tuesday, members prepent being Messrs. F, H. Claxton (chairman), W. E. G. Willy, H. M. Corbett, F. E. Flatt, C. A. Arthur, G. Howie, F. M Strange, J. B. Thomas, J. W. Anderson, J. Pohlen, J. Price, W. McCormick. The engineer (Mr N. G. McLeod), the; consulting engineer (Mr W. P. Gauvain), and the manager (Mr R. Sprague) were in attendance.

APPRECIATION. After the annual reports of the chajrman, engineer, and manager had bee;n read and received Mr Claxton said that his duties were then finished. Before Mr Claxton left the chair Mr Strange said that he had a very pleasant duty to perform on behalf of the members. During the whole time the board had been in existence there had been nothing but good feeling between the members and the chairman. There had been no dissentioin whatever. He had 'therefore very much pleasure in presenting Mr Claxton with a shield containing the photographs of the present and past members of the board. Mr Claxton said that the moment was the hardest one in his term. Tire board had had many difficulties to overcome in starting the scheme and bringing it to its present' satisfactory' stage. It was unnecesisary tor members to give him any' tangible, evidence cif their appreciation. Their whole-hearted support during his term and the success which had been attained were sufficient compensation. He was leaving with regret, but with a great deal of pride, as the board hdd done much to raise the standard of life in the dfetiict by decreasing drudgery and providing comforts. He wished to bespeak the same consideration for his successor, who ever he might be, as had been accorded him. Before leaving he wished to voice his appreciation of the staff, which who always given him their whole co-operation, particularly Mr Sprague and Mr McLeod. He. would continue to take a.n interest in the board’s affairs, and he could not see anything but success in the future of tlie board’s operations. At a later stage in the. meeting it was decided that the board’s appreciation of the services of Mr F. H. Claxton be placed on record in the; board’s books.

Most of the members spoke at length, and the resolution was carried with acclamation. APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN. The manager then took the chair and called for nomination® for the chairmanship. Mr J. B. Thomas nominated Mr F. M. Strange, who had previously held the position. Mr F. E. Flatt seconded, and spoke of the sound qualities of Mr Strange. Mr Pohlen nominated Mr C. A. Arthur, and Mr McCormick seconded. A ballot was ta,ken, and Mr Strapgc was declared elected. Mr Strange thanked the members for the honour conferred on him. He taced the future with confidence owing to the sound footing on which the board’s affairs had been placed by the retiring chairman.

WELCOME. A welcome to Mr H. M. Corbett was extended by Mr Strange, who stated that he had sa ; t with him for 16 yeans on the Ohinemui’i County Council, and had formed the highest opinion of his capabilities. Returning thanks, Mr Corbett paid a tribute to the chairman. He mentioned that in 1911 or 1912 the Ohinemurui County Council of which Mr Strange was a member, and he the chairman, ho.d moved in the matter of getting power for Paeroa from the Waibi Gold Mining Company. However, the Power Boards Act had intervened, but Mr Strange had gone on and had largely been instrumental, in having the Thames Valley Electric Power Board formed. COMMITTEES. Mr J. Price a ; nd Mr C. A. Arthur were nominated for the office of de-

puty-chairman, a,nd pin a ballot being taken Mr Price was appointed, Messrs. Strange, Arthur, Price, Flatt, Pohlen, and Thomas were appointed a finance committee;. The. chairman’s honorarium was made the same as in previous years. MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly board meeting wa ; s then opened, kirikiri bridge. The Public Works engijieicir, Paeroa, applied for the. ar od iw oid iw th the applied for power for a 5-h.p. motor and lighting connection with the Waihou River bridge at Kopu.—Referred to the engineer.

RANGES IN SCHOOLS. The Education Board wrote stating' that it had under consideration to instal electric ranges in the va.rious manual training centres in the Power Board’is; district, and asking that a spe.cial charge 'for the electricity consumed be fixed. In a further letter the board was asked to instal electric 'ranges in the. Morrinsville, Matamata, Thamejs, Te Aroha, and Waihi Technical Schools at a cost of £5 per centre. In a letter to the Education Board it was stated that the ordinary charges for the current would prevail. CHARGES FOR POWER. A copy of a resolution passed by the South Auckland Electric Power Boards’ League was repejved urging that in view of the large profits at present being returned to the department by the Horahora scheme, some concession in the way of reduced charges should be made .to the Waika.to Power boards. This was necessary' in order to stimulate the demand for electricity, and compete; with the present lbw price of benzine. A copy' of the resolution had been forwarded to the Minister of Public Works, who had replied advising that no reductions could be considered at present.

CUSTOMS DUTIES. A copy of a letter received from the Controller of Customs was placed before the board. The letter stated the rules of duty in electric appliances, including electric ranges, were made by law, and could not be altered without an .amendment of the tariff. The resolution would be considered on the first occasion the tariff schedules were renewed.

WINTER SHOW. The Auckland Electric Power Board wrote, asking the board to join with ether power board and firms in making an electrical display at the Auckland Winter Show. The. Auckland board ha,d promised to donate £3OO and the; Waitemata board 50 guineas. It was decided not to entertain the application.

EMPLOYMENT OF STUDENTS. . The Registrar, Canterbury College, wrote stating that the matter of the employment of students by the board had been referred to the engineering society of the; college. It had arrived at the opinion tha.t the proposal offered opportunities for valuable experiences which the society did not wish to lose, but that the salary offered would not be sufficient to induce many applicants to take advantage of tlie proposal.—Referred to the engineer to go into further.

FINANCE. Accounts totalling £20,314 5s lid on the power account and £8729 10s on the loan account were passed for payment. The special resolution striking the rate a.,s security 'for the £150,000 loan was carriied. PATETONGA RETICULATION. On the motion of Mr Willy it was decided to make a canvass of the district from Smerle’s mLI, Kaihere, to Tahuna, and if it was a paying proposition, the construction of the line; be authorised, in accordance with the; late chairman’s promise.