HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2861, 21 March 1925, Page 2

HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Ho),,wheima Power Board was held in the Levin Borough Council Chambers on Tuesday, the chairman (Mr G. A. Monk) presiding. Also present v. ere Messrs Brown, Ross, Barber, KiUby, Markov, Seifert and Gunning. Leave of absence was granted i(, Air D. AY. Malhoson. A lei ter was rend from Ihe Ofaki Borough Council, pointing out that under the latest arrangement of (he Act Board representatives were i A cted at the general Borough eloei ions. The secretary (Mr P. AY. Goldsmith) explained that the result of this would he tlml some of Ihe members of the Board would be elected fur 1 wo years, and some for throe. The Borough representatives would go out one year and the County reprrsen la lives would go out on the next instead of all going out together as formerly. —The teller was i, eci ved. METER READING. As instructed by the Board steps were taken to secure the services of ;i meter reader, some one possessing electrical knowledge and previous experience, combined wit It a good reputation, being sought. There were ir.anv applicants for the position, olid after due .consideration and inVesl igotion, Mr C. E. Sinister, of Welling!on. was appointed. He has already commenced his work. Tt will lie necessary for the Board to deIci mine the best, means for trans-

port with regard to Ibis officer's work. GENERAL. Owing to our Group contract system. there is a considerable amount of work to lie done in getting out eeounts in this connection, in ndei(on to the ordinary routine and everyday duties. In view, too, of the near approach of the end of the financial year, and the balancing of accounts and taking stock, the staff is putting in a very considerable amount of night work in the endeavour to keep things as nearly as may he, up to date. The chairman said in regard to loan money, they would have to go rather steadily in the near future. They had a lot of money out, and until this began to come in, Ihev would be wise to keep expenditure down. It would he necessary to arrange transport for the meterreader. It might he possible to workin with some of the present ears, hut this would have to he gone into. There was also the question of salaries for Ihe office staff. The office was actually under-stalfed, hut whilst they were in their present premises they could not accommodate more. He would like the Finance Committee to review the whole question of these salaries, and submit a report to next meeting. Mr Gunning said he would like to -co meters read once a month. With -mail consumers particularly, the smaller the amount (o he collected

i-iodi period, the easier il would he to get it in.

Air Ross supported this. He would also like to have a fixed date for payment fixed. The present method of allowing payment wiiliin 11 days was the cause of a great deal of extra work to the stall. Afr Seifert said that the proposal

...u!,| In* all right for the Boroughs, hat in the country districts would -he unnecessary, as the (.armors were used to paying larger amounts and '.living by cheque. The treasurer said that he douh- , .1 if one man could do the work if ■he meieis were read monthly. The chairman -aid that he Ihoi.ghr ihey should go quietly and without doubt they would find their ieet in lime. Il would probably be a good thing to read meters in the Boioiiglis monthly, and, of course, they had promised these people that there would lie a place in each Borough where they might pay accounts. The treasurer's leport. was adopted.