PILING ON CONSUMERS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12610, 22 November 1926, Page 3

PILING ON CONSUMERS

5000 MARK REACHED HUTT POWER BOARD’S RECORD ACHIEVEMENT CELEBRATED To celebrate the passing of the 5000th consunier-mark by the Hutt Valley Power Board, employees of the board, their wives and families gathered together on Friday night, at the invitation of’ the chairman (Mr Angus J. McCurdy). The function took the form of a social evening, and was greatly appreciated by the large attendance. ‘ In welcoming ' the guests, Mr McCurdy expressed pleasrure at being able to afford the employees an earnest example of his appreciation of the work of the staff in every department. It was recognised that the men of the Hutt Valley Power Board at all times had done their work willingly, efficiently, and without disputes of any kind." The board recognised it was getting faithful service, and the staff expected and received a fair deal. “GOING TO DO BETTER” “We are doing'fine,” he said, “and we are going to ,do better.” The 5000 mark had been passed earlier than any other pow-er board, had done .outside ■of Wellington, Auckland, Dunedin,. and Christchurch. There were only two power boards ahead cf the Hutt A'allcy in. number of consumers, ' and the Hutt A 7 alley Board was overhauling both of them. He (Mr McCurdy) hoped—if • the- £150,000 loan proposals were approved by the ratepayers on December Ist—to be top of the list on March 31st next. Both the Thames \ 7 allev and Southland Power Boards, who had a greater number of consumers ‘ than the ’ Hutt, had had to, collect . a rate to make good . deficiencies,, while the Hutt Valley’s revenue—estimated at £39,000 for the current financial year’—exceeds the estimates by nearly £7OOO from April Ist to November 18th. This proved that the promise of the board that “rating to provide for shortcomings in receipts will not be necessary” was justified.

DEMAND FOR “JUICE” MAINTAINED ' There was no sign of falling off in the demand for current, already in the current month they had received over 150 applications for permits—the total number of permits issued to date was 5533—which showed they were getting close on the heels of the two boards ahead of Hutt A 7 alley at present. The board’s lines and hightension services were capable of standing up to the demand for some years yet, hut money was required to provide copper for services and for transformers, and to reticulate the mile 9of streets which were being constructed in the process of development of the Eastern Hutt, Tnwa Flat, ’ Upper Hutt Borough, and the western area where sub-divisions were proceeding apace and with no indication of diminution. The board would—when the new loan was authorised—lift moneys only when revenue sufficient to provide interest, sinking fund, and administrative chargee were assured. This had been the policy in the past, and there was no intention of departing from it. At. present . the undertaking was paying all charges, and the revenue showed a marked increase month by month. In conclusion, Mr McCurdy said lie was gratified to have with them that ivght Mr Kissell (chief of the hydroelectricity branch of the Public. Works Department), and his assistant, Mr Mathers, of tho head office staff. Mr Kissell dealt with the subject of electricity supply ’and the activities of the Hutt Valley Power Board. He said that the Hutt A'alley was one of the most favoured localities in the Dominion for the installation of a paying and efficient electricity supply. They had great industrial consumers, and more and more of this description of consumption would be obtained as the locality was appreciated by the manufacturing firms of New Zealand and elsewhere. The domestic load was increasing rapidly, and he urged those present to bring under notice the blessings to the housewives that electric servioes provided. Mr H. F. Toogood, consulting engineer, also traced the growth of the board’s supply, alter which the company proceeded to .enjoy themselves*