THE COST OF ELECTRIC POWER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2978, 22 December 1925, Page 2

THE COST OF ELECTRIC POWER.

MILKING MACHINES BATES. INCREASED BY INEFFICIENT GEAR.

Speaking at last week’s meeting of the Horowhenua Power Board Mr W. E. Barber said some of the small milkers in the Foxton district thought they were being over charged and had complained about the amount electric power was costing as compared with benzine engines. Mr. Barber said the Manawatu-Or-oua Board had had to make concessions to the small milkers. One man had declared he would go back to benzine if the cost was not less. The chairman: It would not be for long. The Consulting Engineer, Mr. Overton, said the Manawafu-Oroua Board had had to make concessions because i( put in two-h.p. motors which were too big for small milkers. ITorowhenua they had put in U-h-p. motors for the small herds. That made a difference of £3 per year. The complaints come from one area where* the settlers were >iol canvassed by the Board, but by some contractors and they may have had motors that were too large installed. Further benzine was now costing 12/6 whereas it was costing 25s when the Board commenced operations.

Mr. Barber said the settlers were basing their complaints on what it cost last year.

Mr. Boss said he thought the trouble was really a misunderstanding. The chief complaint was that of a man who put in his own motor and thought he was being charged rent for it. If it was explained, In* thought everything would he alright.

The chairman said Mr. -lack was visiting the locality that day. The se.-'eiarv said all the complainants had been visited. One set tier was unite satisfied and would not sign Ibe "complaint. Tt was possible that bigger motors were installed than were required, but one man would not have bis changed though an offer bad been made to do so. The officers ot the Board bad never said that power was cheaper than benzine. The policy of the Board, as frequently expressed, was that the lirst reduction possible in rates would be given to milking maebine users. At the end of the year the Board could take into consideration the giving of a reduet ion, but it would not be advisable from a limmeial point of view at the present time. 'flu* chairman said that in all businesses it was recognised that the larger the consumer t lie greater was the concession he was entitled to ask for. The smaller consumer always paid at a higher rate than (he larger. At no time when the loan proposals were before the people did he or the engineer tell them that power would cost less than benzine. Mr. Jack bad found that some of the old-fashioned vacuum pumps on milking machines used up to A-li.p. more than the modern pumps and that meant £3 a year. In other eases consumers had left their old engine shafting coupled up so that they could switch on to the engine, in (he case of a break-down of power. This was quite unnecessary; though one could not blame them for being cautious if they were prepared to pay for it. Alien the charges were fixed it was decided that the lirst reduction should he to the dairying side of the Board s business. It certainly would not be advisable to make any reduction at present. Mr. Kilsby said lie was frequently questioned as to when charges were to lit* reduced and only that day bad been asked when the meter rent would be remitted.

The engineer said that while the charge for milking motors might seem a little high, it had to be re-

cognised that the charges were very low for water heating and lighting in the country.