HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2786, 18 September 1924, Page 2

HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETiNG.

The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua Power Board was held in Levin on Tuesday, the chairman, Mr G. A. Monk, presiding. Also present: Alessrs Brown, Ross, Barber, Mackay, Gunning and Seifert. AGREEMENT FOR SUPPLY OF POWER. A letter was read from the Public Works Department, enquiring when - die memorandum of agreement between the Board and the Department would be completed. In reply to the Board’s objection to tho discontinuance of the 5 per cent, discount on bulk power, which had been allowed to some Boards, the Department stated that the prices a- stated in the agreement- were those charged to all Boards under the amended schedule, and that owing to the necessity of making the Manga hao scheme pay in its initial stages, no discount could be allowed.

Ibe chairman stated that this matter had been referred to the Finance Committee with the result that Ibe present attitude had been taken up by the Board. The matter for consideration now was, in view of the fact that some of the other Boom: had signed up, whether the ftorowhenua Board should oppose the agreement, and, if so, on what grounds. Following a discussion in committee, Mr A. Seifert proposed and Mr Gunning seconded, that the agreement be signed by Messrs Ross and Barber on behalf of the Board. This was carried. Xlie Shannon Borough Council advised that at a conference of local bodies held at Shannon regarding a fitting celebration of the turning on of power from the Mangahao "Works, it had been agreed that such a celebration be held, the cost of same to be defrayed by the bodies interested with the aid of a subsidy from the Government. The liorowlienua Power Board’s contribution had been tentatively fixed at £5.

The chairman explained that the Board’s secretary, Mr Goldsmith, hud represented the Board at the conference. The difficulty was that the Board was only allowed 1 per ci at. of revenue for unauthorised expenditure. The estimated revenue for the year was only £I,OOO, and one per cent of this was £lO. The feeling throughout the district, however, was tliat some fitting ceremony should be held to celebrate the lurniug-on of power and it looked as if tb Board should contribute. On the motion of Mr Seifert, seconded by AD Alackay, it was decided ‘to donate the sum of £5 towards the celebration.

It was agreed, upon the recommendation of the Finance Conypittee, to inhke a special allowance to Messrs Samuel Brown Ltd., for the handling of poles below the stipulated minimum number of" 150 in each shipment. The Manawatu Beach Improvement Committee forwarded >applieations from 41 householders at the Manawatu Heads (Foxton) asking that the beach township be connected up with he Board’s supply.—Agreed to. Other business of minor public interest was dealt with.