CONFERENCE OF POWER

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2612, 28 July 1923, Page 2

CONFERENCE OF POWER

BOARDS.

Wellington, Last Night,

At the Power Boards’ Conference in Wellington to-day, in giving particulars of the development to date of the hydro-electric schemes of the Dominion, the Minister of Public Works foreshadowed that, if the' Power Boards proceeded energetically with reticulation the Dominion output in three years’ time would reach 4G,600 K.V.A. Satisfactory progress had been made, but the means of future undertakings would depend largely on the contracts entered into by Power Boards with the Department. Thirty-one Boards had been constituted since the Act was introduced live years ago, ten of which were carrying our distribution and sale. He impressed on Boards the urgent necessity of keeping their accounts right up-to-date, so that the Department knew the exact position; yet some boards hud not ascertained their position as it was at the end of March. This must he done, and legislation would go forward providing substantial penalties in case of failure to com: ply.

Remits were carried urging daylight saving, as it would assist in preventing the power and lighting peak loads clashing and seeking authority to acquire land to grow timber for electric line poles, which the Minister promised last year to favourably consider was considered necessary that Boards should grow suitable timber for pole renewals in years lo come, instead of importing. It was also decided to ask for a reduction of railway freight on imported timber to make the rate the same as for New Zealand timber or to levy freight at the port, so that the cost would be borne by all users of imported timber. The Department is to be asked to undertake the registration of wiremen, thus taking it out- of local control.