BAY POWER BOARD

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 99, 19 October 1938, Page 4

BAY POWER BOARD

THE ENGINEER’S REPORT „ The following report was submitted by Mr. J. D. Dicker for September:— Line Erection.*—l mile '49.8 chuins v of 11,0(10 volt lines. 41,5 route chains of -JOO volt on 11,000 volt lines. 1 10 k.v. a. and 1 15 k.v.a.a transformers erected, complete with structures. Mtumwnhe.—3B route chains 11,000 lines. 47.5 route chains 400 volt on 11,000 volt lines- 1 Kolman oil circuit breaker erected. ] 11,000 volt section switch erected. 3 10 k.v.a. transformers erected. The last sections of tlio line, were livened on the 20th. September. The line construction work at Mamnvahe is completed with the exception of a number of guy fences, and the numbering of tlio poles. To date 9 houses have been wired and c/onneeted up. 18 consumers’ service lines have been completed totalling 130.29 route chains of line. Consumers’ Service Lines (not including Manawahe). —27 new service lines totalling 79.03 route chains of line erected. 4 service lines amounting to 9.70 route chains were dismantled and re-arranged. Line Maintenance—A severe thunderstorm on the morning of the 9th. September accounted for interruptions to power supply between 5 aim. and 7 a.m. on Taneatua and Rangitaiki

feeders, and east boundary, Anglo road: and west drain branch lines, causing damage to the Board’s telephone system and the failure of one 10 lf.v.a. transformer;. Tree cutting on Wainui section and between Station road and Fdgeeumbe. 1 15 k.v.a. transformer replaced with a 30 k.v.a. transformer due to increased loading. I 15 lev..a, transformer and structure dismantled and re-erected in a more suitable site, • I I 10 k.v.a. transformer failed due to lightning and! replaced. A section of damaged 11,000 volt line on Paerata branch line replaced. 3 consumers’ service lilies overhauled and repaired. 1 26ft. hardwood polo replaced. Repairs carried out on a section of tlio Opotiki bridge lighting system. Consumers Connected to 30th. September 1938 (during the jrnst month). —Ranges 5 k.w. and over 3 new connections, 1 re-connections, 2 dis-con-ncetions, 564. total to date, 520 corresponding period: 1937. Ranges 2 k.w. up to 5 k-w. 0,0, 0, 75, 66. Ranges, total, 2, 1,'2, 6'39, 592, Motors (excluding milking and bulk supply), 3,0, 0, 154, 126. Shops and offices 0,1, 231, 220. Houses, 14, 7,0, 1640, 1536. Pumps, 3,0, 1, 398 , 363. Dairy water heaters, 4,1, 2, 543, 537. "Domestic water heaters, '3, 1,2, 638, 584. Total water heaters, 7,2, 4, 1181, 1121. Milking plants, 1,5, 5, 635, 620. Separator motors, 3,1, 1, 352, 335. Total consumers, 10, 9,5, 1862, 1771. Total connected load k.w. 8469 k.w., 7985 k.

P.W.D. Supply.—During the month there lias 'bb'cn one pre-arranged shutdown of 21 hours. V‘ General.—As previously reported the difficulties encountered duo to the bourd’s inability to obtain 1 suitable labour for the wiring department, are still acute. Endeavours have been made throughout the Dominion to secure *tho necessary staff, but the results have betfn disappointing. For the information of members a schedulo is tabled covering the amount of work outstanding at 30th. .September, and the time required to complete the work provided the men wore available.

CHAIRMAN’S CONFERENCE REPORT As instructed by the Board, together with the engineer stud secretary, J. attended the fourteenth conference of the delegates ol the Elec-tric-power Boards and Supply Authorities Assn, of New Zealand at Wellington on loth. 16th. September last. The conference was officially opened by the Hon. Minister.of Public Works, and practically every power-board and supply authority in the Dominion was represented. The Minister traversed the activities of the electrical branch of his department at length, stressing particularly the duplicated lines complete :l and in course of construction to give continuity of supply to the various distiiets. affected. The main features, however, desired by the delegates was the Minister's attitude towards the reduction of bulk supply charges and reticulation of sparsely populated areas. The Minister was unable to give a definite assurance that bulk charges would be reduced bat. intimated that if a reduction was possible, such reduction would be used for the 1 purposes of reticulation in sparsely populated areas. 24 remits appeared on the order paper, all of which were fully discussed, and the following main remits, particularly effecting this board were carried by the conference. Deputy Chairman—That the Act be amended to give authority to elect a deputy-chairman as well as a chairman at each annual meeting of the board. Sparsely Populated Areas, Bulk Charges and Guarantees. —That the Government be urged to give the matter consideration in view of the requirements of prospective consumers in sparsely populated areas, also that the Government Loans Board be urged to reduce the minimufn guarantees required by Electric-power Boards from consumers when considering reticulation extensions. Finance—Loan Minnies.— r l hat the Association again urge on the Government the necessity of making readily available to Power Boards and Supply Authorities supplies ol Joan monies sufficient for the carrying out of.extensions to reticulation systems and on satisfactory terms. Transmission. Lines.—That. where Government transmission lines run through a supply authority’s district one side of tin: road Jie lott clear lor the supply authority or laeilities granted lor the reticulation .of those roads uecimjcd by the Government. .Voting and Defaulters in Rates.— That defaulters in respect of county rates lie not debarred from voting at electric-po'Wer board elections. I be words “or Electric Power Boards Loan Polls” wire struck out of the original motion. Report of Engineers’ and Secretnrios’ Assn. —The reports of both the? Engineers’ and Secretaries’ Associations were submitted to the conference and adopted. Demits Carried and Rclorrod to the Executive for Necessary Action: Electrical Association for Women.—Unit in the event of an electrical association for women being formed in New Zealand. the Power Hoards’ Association agrees to assist and loster it. Bulk Supply Charges Between One Authority and Another. —-That in the event of disputes between one authority and another that same be referred to the executive who, together with a committee to be appointed from each authority take what action that may be deemed necessary to effect a settlement. Remit—Daylight Saving.—A supplementary remit asking that the hallhour daylight saving now in force operate throughout the year- This remit was lost. The hoard’s delegates also attended the second annual meeting of the New Zealand Electric-power Boards and Supply Authorities Industrial Union of Employers held at the close ol the conference on the I.7th. September, 15)38-. Formal business was transacted, and the president announced that the levy required for tin's year’s operations

would ho £6 instead of £lO as levied for last year. - ; The Dominion Award embracing the operations of the whole of the industry was in the hands* of Mr. Bishop, and it was hoped that same would go before the Conciliation Commissioners at an early date. In conclusion I would urge that every encouragement be given to the Board’s executive officers to attend these conferences in order that they may keep in close touch with the ever changing phases of the industry. In my opinion this year’s conference has been, well worth while.