ELECTRIC POWER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5470, 4 September 1929, Page 3

ELECTRIC POWER.

THAMES VALLEY BOARD. MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Thames Valley Power Board was held yesterday at Te Aroha, Mr F. M. Strange, chairman, presiding over Messrs J. Allen, J. W. Anderson, C. A. Arthur, H. R. Bush, H. M. Corbett, F. E. Flatt, J. Pohlen, J. Price, J. B. Thomas, H. Toit, N. G. McLeod (engineer), and R. Sprague (manager). Election Expenses. The Ohinecuri County Council forwarded an account for proportion of expenses in connection with a representative of that county on the board. The chairman stated that as the member fcr Ohinemuri County was returned unopposed, the board was unable to pay part expenses, as it was only in the nature of a returning officer’s fees, whereas the board only contributed when an actual election took place. Flaxmill Charges. Mr J. Walsh, Paeroa, wrote asking that an account rendered totalling £l2 3s 9d be gone into and amended to read £6 2s fid, being the power actually used, instead of the minimum. The engineer stated he had informed Mr Walsh that the minimum amount applied to every month he used power. That was in the agreement between the board and the writer. Mr J. Walmsley, of the board’s Paeroa branch, in a letter expressed surprise at Mr Walsh’s request, as he had fully explained the whole matter of minimum rates to Mr Walsh. Mr McLeod explained that Mr Walsh had said that he wished to test out before the flax season started. Mr Walsh had maintained that le knew nothing about minimum rates, while Mr Walmsley maintained that everything had been explained to him. The chairman stated that there had been quite a lot of trouble with Mr Walsh. It was decided that Mr Walsh must abide by the agreement. Mr M. H. Wynyard, Auckland, wrote asking for an adjustment of his flaxmill account. —Deferred. Advertising Scheme. The Electric Power Board Supply Authorities’ Association advised that the advertising committee had unanimously resolved : “That the committee is of the opinion that the time is now opportune for ’aunching the joint advertising scheme by the Public Works Department, the supply authorities. and the trade, as previously recommended.” This scheme was recommended by the committee after a very thorough investigation, and was submitted to all supply authorities in a circular letter dated February 27, 1927. It involved the expenditure of £20,000, covering a period of three years ; the Government, through the Public Works Department, to subscribe twofifths, the power board two-fifths, and the trade one-fifth of the necessary capital The ccmmitte was of the opinion that the trade would spend a further sum representing one-fifth in individual advertising. The amount to be subscribed by the power boards was estimated on a revenue basis, and would amount to approximately one quarter pei’ cent, of the boards’ annual revenue. The chairman thought that the whole matter was held up by what was occurring at Arapuni. It left the board in the same position as it was in two years ago, until it knew what was going to happen at Arapuni. It was of no use advertising extensively until the board had power to sell, and that supply depended on Arapuni. It was decided to leave the matter to be dealt with later, in the hope that something definite about the situation at Arapuni would be forthcoming in the meantime. Water Meter. The Te Aroha Borough Council advised that it had decided that all extraordinary supplies of water must go through a meter, in accordance with the oy-laws. It was therefore requested that the board affix meters in its store and workshop, at its own expense. Dairy Co. Agreement. The Morrinsville Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., wrote stating that it awaited with interest the board’s further advices regardii;g the company’s proposals following upon recent conversations with the board’s engineer. It also wished to know what progress was being made in regard to improvements promised by the Public Works Department to be completed by September 1. The information had already been supplied. Supply of Trees. The State Forest Service acknowledged the board’s provisional order for trees, and advised that it was reserving 7000 E eugenioides, subject to confirmation on or before August 7.