HOROWHENUA ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

Otaki Mail, 1 May 1922, Page 4

HOROWHENUA ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

(The monthly meeting oi ttie Horowhenua Electric Power Board was held in Levin last week. Present: The chairman (Mr G. A. Monk) and Messrs. D. W. Matheson, W. H. Gunning, A. Siefert, A. Mackay, C. Kilsby, Barber, F. Whibley and A. A. ( Brown. I QUESTION OF FINANCE. The • chairman reported upon the result of the joint deputation of power boards which waited to the Prime Minister in regard to their finance requirements. The Prime Minister had 1 absolutely declined to give any guarantee that the State would back a loan in London, but would give any assistance he could outside that. One way in which this could be done was by the Government using temporarily, any loan money the Board might not Immediately require, and so lessen the interest cost. The chairman of Jhe Manawatu Board proposed to call the delegates together to consider the position. Thl3 Board would need to ascertain as soon as possible the amount of money it would have to raise by loan, and It would take some time to get the loan proposals put before the ratepayers. Whoever was appointed Engineer would have to give some idea of the money required. It was essential to know this as soon as possible. The matter was held over pending the appointment of an Engineer, the chairman remarking that Horowhenua would be ready for the power as soon as some of the other boards in the group. It would have to be ready.

RATING ARRANGEMENTS,

The chairman said it woujd be aeeessary to decide how the rate that would lie struck as security for advances from bank would be collected if it was required. The local bodies could collect the rate for, say, 5 per cent, and do it cheaper than the Board, as they were already issuing rate notices and had rolls in existence. On Mr Matheson’s motion, seconded by Mr Gunning, it was decided that any general rate struck by the Power Board be collected by the various local bodies within the Board's district as per section 13 of the Electricflower Boards Amendment Act, 1920. Cillers were received from two firms willing to raise loans for the Board. Formal resolutions required by the bank in connection with the rate that is to be stnlf-k as security for advances were pasS*d. THE ACTING-SECRETARY.

The arrangement arrived at with the Horowhenua County Council by which Mr Goldsmith becomes acting-secre-tary to the Power Board was confirmed. Mr Goldsmith Was also appointed treasurer to the Board. ' GENERAL. I The secretary said that temporary offices would be required immediately and he suggested that an effort be made to obtain the old fire brigade ! station for the purpose. The Board I approved of this, and the chairman 1 and Messrs. Seifert and Brown were 2 appointed a committee to deal with * the' matter. £ The'chairman, secretary and Messrs Seifert and Matheson were appointed I a sub-committee to go into the pro- ('' posed expenditure during the current twelve months. POWER BOARD ENGINEER. | MR OVERTON’S CAREER. ? The Horowhenua Electric-Power I Board spent two hours in committee at Levin yesterday discussing the appointment of a resident engineer to th« Board. Over forty application* were received for the position, and these were reduced to three by a vibconnnittee. These gentlemen were asked to wait on the Board for a persona! interview. This took place, and. as stated yesterday, Mr T. R. Overton, M.1.E.E., was appointed engineer' to | , the Board. j The position carries with it a salary of £IOOO a year, and is amongst the highest-salaried positions of its class in the Dominion, Mr Overton is a New Zealander by birth, 36 years of age, and is at present Engineer to the Central Electric Power Board, which centres in Hamilton and controls most of the Waikato. He commenced his training in the- New Zealand Railway Department

(mechanical engineering branch) in

J 906. serving in the railway workshops at. Hillside, Dunedin, till 1906, when he was appointed draughtsman to .the Dunedin Drainage and Sewerage" Board. In 1907 he went into a private civil engineer’s; office, and a year later became draughtsman in the City Electrica.l Engineer’s office in Dunedin’.. He was employed on plan* and specifications for the hydro-elec-tric power-house at Waipari Fails, al*o the transmission and distributing systems. After holding different positions he became Cngineer-in-charge of the distribution and consumers' department in Dunddin, a position he held until joining the 'Expeditionary

Forces in 191 a. He was -15 months with the Pioneer Battalion, being in charge of their most important engineering work. After a brief period in hospital with gas and wound, he .was posted io the New Zealand Railway Engineers as Mechanical and Electrical' Superintendent, and subsequently succeeded in obtaining the position of principal assistant engineer wish full responsibilities for the alectrifral rhaclrinery in the whole of ' the Second. Army Light Railway sys- ! tern.' At the conclusion of hostilities, Mr Overton took the opportunity of seeing everything possible In regard to electrical undertakings in England and France. On returning Rome he rejoined the City Electrical Engineer’* staff in DunediD as Assistant Engineer. In 1990 Mr Overton was appointed Electrical Engineer to the Central Electric Power Board, covering the greater part of' the Waikato, and he has planned and carried out that Board’s system from the inception. In .1991 he was admitted a member of th*

Institution of Electrical Engineers, London, a rank only eujoyeu uy se»*su other electrical engineers in New Zealand. Mr Ovyton possesses higli ercdeuuaio, ana ins 'personality strongly Impressed the Board.'

POWER BOARD SALARIES

CHAIRMAN’S AND MEMBERS’ ALLOWANCES FIXED. The Act under which the Electric Power Boards work proviues ior me payment of the chairman unu uisuiuers, it being, recognison mat uit wont they are called on io no requires close attention and a great ueai ui time, they are, in lact, directors oi a commercial undertaking latncr than members ot a local bou.,. neguianjus nave just been gazeueu scnmg out tne minis oi me remuueiaaon, aim me tiorownenua Board iiau oemre n on \Veunesuay particulars m me payments made by other Boards, '.nt central Waikato Board pam ns chunman £2OO per annum, aim members £l 1/ per meeting or per day wnen on die Board's business, with a travelling allowance of 1/ per mile one way. me Cambridge Board also paid £-tio to tne ehairman and 10/ per meeting to members. It .was also stated that die Dannevirke Board paid me chairman £o-ia and travelling expenses outside the district, while the i'hamcs Board paid £4OO to its chairman. The Horowhenua Board decided, on Mr A. A. Brown’s motion, to pay ns members £1 1/ per day lot attending meetings, and a similar fee when on the Board’s business by resolution? with travelling expenses of Sd per mile each way.

Mr Gunning questioned whether so per mile was not "a bn stiff.” lie came by train, and it would nut eosi mm that much. Some members came over 30 miles, and it would mount up. The chairman said tlie 1-losptta! Boards Act allowed 8d per mile to be paid, and it was generally accepted that it cost that much to run a. ear. It a member travelled by rail be would only put in his actual fare as expenses.

Mr Gunning was satisfied with iiiat explanation.

On the question of the chairman s allowance, Mr Monk said, so fur as lie was personally concerned, tie was prepared to put every ounce of push he could into the affairs of ttie Board No doubt when it came to rite pffnt of putting the loan proposal before the ratepayers lie would need io take the road and explain it io them. .Since taking up the position lie had had to make certain arrangement* for t lie carrying on of his private affairs. As he. slated when he. took up ilie chairmanship, lie could not afford to give his Lime to the neglect oi his own affairs without remuneration, and lie did not pretend to be able. At the same time they did not want io pay. away any sum of money unless ■'hey were satisfied they were getting good value for it. They should seek to conserve their money and not wasteleast of all on themsejvys. Mr Brown moved, and Mr Whibley seconded, that the chairman -be given remuneration of £250 pep annum, plus havelliug expenses. Mr Brqtyii sa'.d the chairman would have to devote a lot of time to the affairs of the Board in the district and out of it.

hey could not ask him to neglect lus wri work without adequate remunera-

tion. The chairman asked for an expression of opinion from all the mem-

her*. Mr iMackay said lie. was one of ’hose who moved to increase the Engineer's salary to £IOOO. If the chairman was going U) do his duty, £250 was rot too much. Mr Seil'ert did no/, see how a man could take the position kwl work,of chairman without neglecting nix .ojvn affairs. .He supported the motion. Mr Gunning said it was a business proposition. The chairman would have to siile-i rack his own business. Mr Matheson said the' members had enough cqnfhlenceTn Mr Monk’s fairness to know that at the end of the year he won! 1 frankly say whether £250 was too touch cr whether they ought to pay Je- . Mr Barber said the chairman had accepted a grave responsibility, and would have to sw r, int, of time into the work of the Ihutcd. .Mr Gil shy was i.. leased to support tlie motion. The chairman would not have much leit out. of £250 at the c-nd or twelve months. The motoin wa= unanimously carriel.