METHODS CRITICISED.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5482, 2 October 1929, Page 2

METHODS CRITICISED.

THAMES VALLEY POWER BOARD DUTY TO CONSUMERS. The methods employed at some of the Thames Valley Power Board branch offices came in for some constructive criticism at the meeting of that body yesterday, and those employed at the head office itself did not come off unmentioned. Mr J. Allen, the Morrinsville representative on the board, raised some pertinent questions in the interests of the board. He prefaced his remarks by saying it was usual that a body such as the Power Board should incur a lot of criticism from various sources, criticism that was so usual that it was better ignored. But he had lately heard and experienced some things that could not be dismissed as groundless. It appeared that there was some fault in the organisation or system of the board. It was not doing as much as it should do to increase loads off the peak load, and was not giving the necessary amount of service to the consumers.

Quoting specific instances, Mr Allen said a man at Morrinsville had wanted additions to his works installed. He had asked the board’s official in Morrinsville what the cost would be. The official did not know, and told the inquirer to write to Te Aroha. It should not be necessary to refer to Te Aroha, said Mr Allen. The official should know. When told the cost, the inquirer found it was twice the cost of steam, which he already had in. Mr Allen asked if the rate could not be cheaper off the peak load. The same kind of thing, said the speaker, had happened to him. He had written to the Te Aroha office and had received no reply. It was wrong to be told to get in touch with the head office when there was a branch in the town concerned.

Continuing, Mr Allen said it also struck him that the board’s officials in towns did not keep the office informed of chances of selling power off the peak load. He knew of three private hospitals where there had been an opportunity of selling under those conditions. By ‘this means the board would increase profits and therefore be able to lower costs. One hospital was lost, as in the interim it had been fitted up. If the officials were alive they would get round. There must be lots of other instances, and the officials should look out for them, ft might be a useful suggestion that responsible officials, such as the engineer, should go round the big consumers at least once a year and inspect the machinery, seeing if there was any chance of a breakdown. The board was not working the staff on the right lines. Another member, who followed Mr Allen, said that the Auckland Gas Co., in competition with the Auckland Power Board, was making good profits and kept costs at a reasonable figure. If a private concern could do that a power board ought to be able to. The chairman, Mr F. M. Strange, said that Mr Allen was right in having the interests of the board at heart, but maintained that he did not give the staff credit for what they were doing. When his letter was not answered he should have lodged a definite complaint and given the official a chance. The engineers and field engineers were in constant touch with consumers, and were always ready with suggestions. They must be quite fair to the staff. Mr J. Price considered that the matter was one for the House and Finance Committee to consider and report on.

Mr Allen explained that he had no personal grievance against any of the staff. They had always been courteous and civil to him. The non-answered letter was the only thing which had given him cause for complaint. Mr J. Pohlen supported the contention that the board’s representatives in various centres should be able to give information instead of referring customers to Te Aroha. Mr H. M. Corbett thought that the board’s representatives in the various areas were mostly good ones, but he could see Mr Alien’s point. They must, in the interests of business, keep in touch with consumers ; that was the only hope of competing with others. The engineer, Mr N. G. McLeod, explained that Government instructions called for one inspection in five years. The board inspected more frequently than that. Any complaints the larger consumers brought up were always attended to. If it became a regular thing they had to be charged. If they wanted a special inspection they had to pay for it; but at the same time every assistance possible was given. Mr Allen thought that the engineers should first look in occasionally, and that the consumers should not have to ask them to come in. It was only what any other commercial company would do. If one bought farm machinery a representative was sure to call later to see that all was in order. Mr F. E. Flatt rose to say that in Paeroa estimates were invariably given by the depot clerk, but if not in a position to do so he rang Te Aroha up immediately and the information was given then and there. He also gave added information on his own account.

The chairman said he considered that the matter had received enough publicity, and it was decided to adopt Mr Price’s suggestion and refer the question to the House and Finance Committee, where, the chairman remarked, it would be gone into thoroughly. _______