HOROWHENUA ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

Otaki Mail, 22 May 1922, Page 4

HOROWHENUA ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

VARIOUS MATTERS DIsfcjJSSKD,

A meeting- ->f the Horowhenua Electric Rower Board was held in Levin on Tuesday. Present: Messrs. G. A. Monk (chairman), A. A. Brown, F. Whibiey, C. Kilsby, A. Seifert, \V. H. Gunning, D. W. Matheson, Barber and Mack ay. RAISING A LOAN. The Manawatu-Oroua Power Board wrote stating it was proposed to commence negotiations at an early date in connection with the raising of the proposed joint Joan between the \\ a-nganui-Rangitikei, Tararua, tlorowhenua, Dannevirke and ManawatuOroua Boards, “and t have been requested to ascertain if it is si ill the intention of your Board to join in the proposal, and if so, to request you to forward the amount of your estimates to be included in the loan proposal. This matter will be discussed at the next meeting oi my Board, to be held on June 12, and i shall be glad if you will kindly lorward the information before that dute,"

The Chairman sand Munuwatu e> identiy proposed to carry on negotiations .when they got. the estimates, that was not the idea oi the conference at all. He was not in favour of any one Board or its representatives conducting these negotiations (Hear, hear.) This Board should re reply stating the money it required, and stating that, in its opinion, a further conference should be called. It was not left entirely in the hands of the Manawatu Board to open negotiations, as they evidently intended.

Mr Whibiey said Rangitikei, one ui the Boards mentioned, hud decided to go on its own. Tlie chairman said .the conference came to a decision to go to Mr Massey. They had done that, and the onus on the Manawatu Board was to call another conference of Boards.

Mr Brown asked whether their En gineer would hei able to give mi erti mate.

The chairman: Yes, lie will. Wc will be quite ready for them. THE ENGINEER’S ENGAGEMENT. The Central Power Board wrote thanking the Board for its offer to allow Mr Overton to make periodical visits of inspection, and stating that he ilfiacl been appointed Consulting Engineer for a period of 13 months from the date of the termination of

liis present position, should lie be so long required, and the Board’s consent was asked to him occupying the dual position. The chairman and members of the Horowhenua Board were .assured of a cordial reception should they desire to visit the Waikato district. Mr Whibiey said he understood the Engineer would receive £250 per annum as Consulting Engineer for the Central Board. He did not think it. was quite a lair thing seeing tliai lie was also to receive £.IOOO per year from this Board.

The chairman said that personally lie could not see any harm in it. The Board knew that the Engineer was bound to give three months’ notice to die Central Board, but in order to have his services sooner had suggested that lie could act in an advisory capacity to the Central Board if they desired it. On the other hand, it was stated in the schedule ul duties that lie was entirely in this Board’s service. It was for this Board to say whether it agreed. 1 tie speaker had made the suggestion at last meeting that the Engineer could advise (lie other Board until his suc-

cessor wits appointed. The Engineer would not get his full salary here until he look up die position.

Mr Brown said the chairman made, the offer to die Engineer to assist the Central Board. Mr Matheson: And jlie Board was quite agreeable to the offer.

The chairman said this Board was going to save a considerable amount in salary by the arrangement. The Engineer would not be able to lane rip his position tor some weeks, though tire — speaker would like to have him here when the loan proposals were being put before the people. Personally, he did not think it mattered very much to them what the Central Board were paying. .Air Whibley: I think it does. When we engaged the secretary, we made the arrangpnien't direct with the County Council. The arrangement with the Central Board should be made with the Horowhenua Electric Power Board. The chairman: They are suggesting that in this letter. This Board can turn the proposal down if It likes, but one Board should assist another as far as it could.

Mr Whibley agreed that the Boards should work in with and not fight each other, but the Engineer was getting a good salary, and it was not a fair tiling that he should get this £2OO.

Mr Maekay could not see what objection there could be to the Central Board paying the money if they v.ere prepared to do it. It was raiher a feather in the Engineer's cap that they should be willing to pay him. Mr Seifert said there was a good deal in Mr Whibley’s contention, but this Was an exceptional case. This Board wanted the Engineer as soon as possible, and to get him quickly it had made an offer to allow 'h.'m to advise the Central Board. The Engineer was not on full salary here-yet, but he was doing what this Board required. He save no objection to the arrangement, but in other circumstances he might not agTee to such a course.

Mr Matheson agreed with the principle Mr Whibley had brought tip, but there "ere different circumstances in this case. The Board had to appoint, an Engineer to allow them to get on with" their work, but they had no finance, and until they arranged a loan' were not able to purchase material. They had made an arrangement whereby the Engineer could give the Board an interim

report and do other preliminary work that would enable them to get

tn,eir money and commence operations. - They , wanted to clearly understand mat in the meantime the Engineer was not getting his full salary from Horowhenua. They would be very foolish to keep him here and pay him the. full salary when they bad no work for him to do, and when the other Board could be making full use of his services, li should also be clearly understood that this Board .had first call on the Htgineer. Apart from that, he could see no objection to 1 the arrangement, which meant getting the Engineer's advice much sooner than otherwise would have been possible. The chairman: And we do not. want to do any injustice to the Central Board.

The chairman said lie was not going to say lie disagreed with Mr Whibiey-, but- the circumstances wcie not. what lie thought. The speaker had suggested six months as the period for which the Engineer might act as consultant, and he would stick to that, He would move that the agreement with the Central Board be made for six months, and reviewed at the end of that time. He asked the Engineer to state his point of view.

Mr Overton said he Was rather sorry the question had cropped up. because the Central Board had simply regarded the £250 a year as paving his railway fare and travelling expenses when he wien't- there, it

..■as not worth his while for the sum mentioned going up there, spending his time and trouble and putting in a couple of nights in the train. A thousand pounds looked a big salary, but, as a matter of fact, it was nothing great under the circumstances. By the time lie had shitted his home, which would cost fully £IOO, bought a motor-car capable ol ,aking him round this district, and bought a house, considerable inroads would have been made into it. He could have had £IOOO in the, Waikato anil stayed them, but bail accepted this Board's position and was going to keep to his undertaking. The chairman's motion was then agreed to. Mr 11. ('.. Oaten, one of the three selected candidates for the position of Engineer, wrote thanking the Hoard tor its consideration. Ihe Hoard hud every reason to congratulate itself on its selection. Mr Overion was a real man, and undoubtedly able to carry their programme to fruition and place Horowhenua in the lead so far as sound engineering wa.s concerned. A second reason for congratulation lay in the fact that a New Zealander was selected, proving that this wountny could produce engineers who could think beyond their jobs. 'Tlie Board might, not know it, but tlte eyes oi the world .vvete on New Xeakind's electrical programme and especially on distribution as carried out by the Power Boards, so

therefore it behoved them tu j'-mhi every nerve to gei sound results .md a satisfied public. He expressed his gratitude for the absolute fairness and impartial hearing given him by ihe Board.

“A very fine letter,” commented the chairman. Mr A. A. Hastings, the other candidate, also wrote expressing his sincere thanks for the Board s kind consideration of his application, the good hearing lie received at the interview, and the kind remarks passed by tlie chairman and members on die announcement ol Hie decision. general. The Finance Committee brought down a provisional estimate- oi expenditure to March 31, 1023. lids totalled £2BOO, and comprised: salaries and travelling—Engineer £OSO draughtsman £350, typist £IOO, County Council (clerk) £210; office furnishing, etc., £6O; printing, etc., £SO: bank interest on overdraft £7O, iem £65, loan poll and legal £95, motorcar £275, -travelling £SO, contingencies £75. chairman £2lO, members of Board £240. These estimates were adopted by the Board.

The Town Clerk, Levin, wrote asking the Board to submit a rough outline of the office accommodation it would require in the proposed public buildings it was proposed to erect. —Referred to Finance Committee.

Messrs. Matheson, Seifert, Whibley and the chairman Were appointed a permanent Finance Committee.