ELECTRIC POWER FOR SCHOOLS

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 25, 3 April 1924, Page 3

ELECTRIC POWER FOR SCHOOLS

FOR COOKING PURPOSES. Free Current for Two Years. Requests for the installation of electric stoves and the granting- of free power for same opened up a discussion at Tuesday’s meeting- of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board. The Auckland Education Board wrote asking- that an electrical cooking range be installed in the Te Aroha manual technical school. The Thames Borough Council, it was pointed out, had supplied an oven and were giving free power to the school at Thames. The Matamata Town Board wrote with a request to instal an oven in the Matamata school and to grant free power.

The chairman recommended tint the Education Department’s letter be referred to the Te Aroha Borough Council. It was a matter for the local bodies as, if the Board provided one oven, requests would be made from all over the district. Mr. Pohlen thought it was asking too much of the Board, which was. a ratepayers’ concern, and the Board members had to make it pay. Mr. Willey said there was a precedent with the Thames Borough Council and the local bodies should attend to such matters. It was decided that the Education Board’s letter be referred back to the Education Board, suggesting that it should put the matter before the Tc Aroha Borough Council. With regard to Matamata’s request Mr. Flatt did not see why the current should not be supplied free as long as the local authority supplied the oven.

Mr. Arthur said that schools were run by the Government. The Government charged the Board with the current and he did not see why the Board should not charge the Government for any current used. Mr. Anderson moved that provided that it was not the Government’s custom to make grants for this purpose free current be granted. Mr. Flatt seconded. Mr. Thomas said a motion such as that would encourage the Education Department to put more costs upon the country centres. In the large towns the school had fuel and other necessities provided by the Department.

Mr. Strange said that the schools would not use power during the peak loads, and Mr. Willey recommended that the provision of free power should be for not more than two years.

The motion, including Mr. Willey’s suggestion, was carried unanimously.