POWER BOARD

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 39, 1 June 1938, Page 4

POWER BOARD

.. • ,v,v -r annual meetinc • NELD i MR. COW’S RETIREMENT MR. F. J. BURT NEW CHAIRMAN The annual meeting of tlie Bay, of Plenty Electric Power Board was held yesterday at the board’s office, Opotiki:— Those, present were: Messrs. Burt, Burrett, Maxwell, Gault, Sumner and Speiice. ' An apology for the absence ol Ml- MitelieU was received. The min-, utes of the previous annual meeting were read and confirmed. At the request of the board the retiring chairman, Mr J. B. Gow attended and presented his report for the past year which was unanimously adopted. Complimentary references were again made to Mr Gow’s past services as member and chairman of the board, members expressing best wishes to Mr Gow on the occasion of his retirement from active local body service. Mr Gow feelingly replied and retired from the meeting.

The board passed a resolution placing on record its deep appreciation of the long and valued services rendered then board by Mr Gow as member and chairman. .. . .

On the call of nominations for the position of chairman, Messrs Burrett and Burt were proposed; but the voting being even, a ballot was taken and Mr Burt was declared elected. M‘r Burrett was elected deputy-chairman.

The consulting engineers, Messrs Viekerman and Lancaster, presented their annual report and were reappointed for ;v further term.

Mr J. D. Dicker, engineer-manager, presented' his annual report covering the 'operations for the year which was duly adopted. Attention was drawn to, the satisfactory financial position of jthe board, the increasing consumption of power, and the general volume of business as compared with the previous year and estimates.

After electing the local members as the finance committee, the hoard entered upon its ordinary monthly meeting, the principal business of which was the discussion of the estimates for the coining year, as presented by the engineer-manager.

Expenditure on future extensions was fulJiK considered and the estiiwpre adopted, the dates for future wbhe. meeting closed with a '/vote of thanks to' the chair. The Ghairman's Report. \£llic following report for the year 1937-38 was presented to the board by the retiring chairman, Mr J. 13. Gow: —- Although the very comprehensive report placed .before you by Mr Dicker, our engineer-manager, leaves little for me to say/it is customary for the retiring chairman to make' a few remarks on the year’s operations. As you are all aware the past year has been a particularly difficult one, by reason pf the nippy changes in costs and conditions 'owing to. rfieent legislationSdiav-in'l disturbed and hindered, for the time being, the working of the board, and time being requiredl to adjust ourselves to the alterations. However I think we may congratulate the stpff and ourselves that we have come through this period with so little disturbance .as to enable the presentation of the satisfactory report of our engineer and manager to be placed before you.

From the outset the board has made -steady and’ uninterrupted progress and this past year has shown, further advance. We may attribute this largely to our consistent policy of seeking to strengthen our position by building up' the assets of the Board without incurring further d&ht, and to the very liberal way in which the 'hoard has provid'ed servictvfor its consumers. Those of you who study the '■ workings of other rural boards must be aware that our position among them reflects the credit upon' the skill, and management of our manager . and staff. As a, board we recognise this debt the district. owes to them for the satisfactory service rendered. We recognise too the .. important service rendered to us , continually by qur consulting engineers,-Messrs Viekerman and Lancaster, who have serv,,cd us .so-well-from the inception of tlie Board. We have had too a Board working wholeheartedly for the advancement of the district without discord or friction. The best welfare of our consumers has been their constant care.

I regret that 1. am not to bo in active service with you further, but have every confidence that under the incoming board advance ■ will he even greater than it has been in the past. Thanking, you all for the way in which you have all contributed to make mv service such an agreeable one and wishing that every prosperity may attend your further efforts.