CHEAPER POWER SOUGHT

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4995, 2 July 1926, Page 3

CHEAPER POWER SOUGHT

ACTION BY FARMERS’ UNION. local board approached. At Tuesday’s meeting .of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board the question of reducing the cost of power to farmers wag introduced by a letter from the Waikato sub-provin-cial executive of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union advising that the Cambridge branch had requested the support of the executive in ,an endeavour to obtain a reduction in the price of electric power in bulk to the power boards operating in the Waikato. “It is thought,’’ continued the letter, “that the profit made by Horahora as shown on the b'ajance-sheet last year was excessive, ,and was defeating, the object of the use of electricity, which should be the cheapest ’form of power available.” The letter pointed but thd,t the Public Works Department’s balancesheet showed a credit balance of £20,109—33 1-3 per cent, of the gross income. There was an amount of £40,000 in reserve a : t March 31, 1926. It was also stated that the charges were higher than for electricity produced by coal. It was thought that bulk charges should be reduced. The price from Horahora, to the Auckland Power Board had been reduced to £7, while this board was paying £lO. “In view o£ the foregoing, concluded the letter, “I am directed to request that your boa : rd kindly approach the Public Works Department in ah earnest endeavour to obtain a reduction in the wholesale prices to you, so that you will be able to ma,ke a reduction to your own. consumers, instead of an increase, as made to the Te Aroha borough recently.” The chairman (Mr F. M. Strange) remarked that he did not know where the Farmers’ Union got its informa,tion. If the board took the same amount of power as did the Auckland board the rate would be cheaper. Mr F. E. Flatt said that in ahy case the board was paying nearly 25 per cent, more for power thap w,as origin- , ally agreed upon. It appeared that the matter should be taken up by the Power Boards’ Conference. The chairman sa,id that the contract with the. Government had expired over 12 months ago. It was a good policy to keep pushing Tor a reduction. It was not thought that there would be any reduction until Arapuni wag completed. Mr Flatt moved that the board was in sympathy with the union, and that the matter would be fully thrashed out a,t the forthcoming conference. Mr J. B. Thomas seconded, and said that there was no inducement to get people on the land to avail themselves of electricity when the metropolitan areas were able to get power cheapei* .-than country centres. The resolution was carried.