POWER BOARD

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 32, 11 May 1938, Page 3

POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING FREEZERS FOR DAIRIES Tlie monthly meeting of the Bay of Plenty Electric Power Board was held in tlie board’s -room on Tuesday. Present: the chairman (Air. J. B. Gow), Alessrs J. AY. Sumner, F.' J.. Savage, S. Maxwell, J .A. Alitcliell, W. T. Burrett, J. IA- Dicker (engineer-man-ager) and G. A. Hathaway (secretary). Before business commenced M!r J. AY. Sumner moved a vote of condolence to Air F. J. Burt in the loss of liis mother. Air Sumner said Mr Burt was a-' foundation member of the board and'-.as all the members knew, was: seldom absent from a meeting. The members of the board stood in silence as a mark of respect to, the late Airs' Burt. Tlie chairman instructed tlie secretary to write a letter of condolence to Air Burt. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed and accounts, as presented, were passed for payment. The Opotiki Borough Council wrote announcing that as the nomination of Air AA 7 . T. Burrett, as borough representative for tlie board, was the only one received, he was duly elected.

lA letter was received from the chief executive officer of the Electric Power Boards’ Association regarding superannuation in connection with the Government scheme. As tlie correspondence was lengthy it was resolved to supply the members with copies.

The New Zealand Institute of Horticulture forwarded a circular letter drawing attention to the desirability of exercising' greater care in cutting back! trees adjacent to power poles. The letter was received. The engin-eer-manager presented his report which was accepted. Mr Maxwell congratulated Mr Dicker on the cost per unit ' sold which he said compared more .than favourably with any other board in the Auckland province. Mr Maxwell also raised the question of refrigerators in the dairy sheds. He suggested that it should be possible to, obtain a cheap refrigerator or rather cooling-chamber, which would greatly assist the farmers since the grading ol cream. He thought all boards should co-operatC in obtaining this. It would only be necessary to operate the freezer at nights. In roplv Mi" Dicker stated that avo years ago he had gone into the matter in question thoroughly, and had hoped that the cost would work cut at about £SO. At this stage prices rose and he ■ found that it would be impossible to obtain a suitable freezer at Jess than £ICO which price lie knew was too high for the farmers. However, the matter had been kept m mind.

Mr Maxwell said that providing the engineers had the matter in hand it was a step in the right direction.

After further discussion, Mr Dicker was asked to revive interest in the matter.

A letter was received from Mir Middlemas, Ilnatoki, concerning his semicommercial refrigerator. The position, as stated in the letter, was explained to the board by Mr Dicker and the following resolution, moved by Mr Mitchell and seconded by Mr Maxwell, was made: That all commercial refrigerators he rated at 1 h.p. and charged at commercial rates as from Ist. April.

The secretary of the Otakiri School Committee wrote asking the hoard if something could 1 he clone about ponci lines which crossed the school pmyground and access to football fields. Mr Dicker explained that it would he too costly t 0 remove the power hnas crossing the playground hut alterations could he made to allow a. free access to the football field. —This suggestion was approved. Mr James Parkinson wrote asking for power to, be supplied fo his Waiotahi farm. Mr Dicker explained the route which it would be necessary to take, and the necessity for a. dual line to Opotiki. He stated that lie would investigate the matter thoroughly and prepare the cost for the estimates for the annual meeting. The board agreed to endeavour to meet Mr Park-

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