POWER BOARD.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 275, 14 February 1929, Page 2

POWER BOARD.

FEBRUARY MEETING. General Business. The Thames Valley Power Board met on Tuesday, the chairman, Mr. F. Strange, presiding. Those present were Messrs. J. B. Thomas, G. Howie, C. A. Arthur, J. McCormack, W. E. G. Willy, J. Pohlen, F. E. Flatt, P. Corbett, J. Price and J. W. Anderson.

Burnt Meters. The Public Works Department wrote repudiating liability for the board’s meters which were burnt at the fire at Horahora on September 1. It was pointed out that the instruments were installed by the board

and the department, as was its custom, granted housing room for them. This should not be construed as rendering the department liable for the loss or destruction of the meters, a risk which the board could no doubt | have had covered by insurance. Members considered the board had a moral claim and that if the matter went before the Minister the department might consider paying half the loss.

The matter was referred to the I manager and engineer to make fur- , ther representations. i Bank Commission Kate. “ You will be pleased to know,” wrote Mr. Beeche, secretary of the ( Central Power Board, “ that the As- i sociated Banks have reconsidered their decision to increase the rate of | commission from i per cent, to 2S j per cent., and have now adopted a , commission rate of 1A per cent. ■ Putaruru Representation. The Matamata county clerk, Mr. C. ( 'F. Barton, wrote asking what ar- | ! rangemcnts had been made regarding 1 the representation on the board of ( I the Putaruru town district, which j was not now part of the Matamata j county. The clerk also said he un- | derstood that a portion of the coun- j ty, near Cambridge, which was for- j ! merly in the board’s area, was now in that of the Cambridge board. A description of the boundary in this locality, as it now stands, also the date of the alteration, was sought. The manager said he had forwarded the desired information. The board could increase its membership only by Order-in-Council. Putaruru was formerly represented by the Matamata county representative, and he had suggested as an alternative that the town be bracketed with the Matamata Town Board for representation. Matamata Street Lights.

Referring to recent negotiations the Matamata town clerk, Mr. C. G. Lucas, wrote that his board’s request was that it be permitted to supply its own electric street lamp renewal globes, or in other words that instead of purchasing its street lamp globes from the power board that the town board supply its own globes, when and as required, direct to the members of the power board’s staff for'fitting. The chairman did not think the proposal was feasible. The Manager : The board would be losing money if it complied. Mr. Flatt : A big policy question would be opened up. Other boroughs would make similar applications. Mr. Price said he had explained the position to Mr. Lucas and had pointed out that renewals, formerly made by the power board, would now have to be made by the town board. He

did not think anything further would be heard about the matter. “A Knock-oat.” “ The account for the amount shortcharged on heaters is certainly a knock-out,” wrote Mr. A. D. Pemberton, Tirau, referring to the charge on water heaters. The writer said he was one of the first to encourage the use of power on Cambridge road, and to make the link payable he agreed to make as large an installation as possible. As a result he was probably one of the largest consumers in the locality. As the line was now well established Mr. Pemberton suggested that the charge for heaters remain as previously. In making the installation he anticipated a charge of about £55 per annum, but on top of that a 10 per cent, increase was made, bringing the amount to over £6O. In addition to this £lB for back charges was an unduly heavy 1 burden.

The manager said the account was in order.

Replying to Mr. Anderson, Mr. Sprague said the line was now paying. Mr. Pemberton had taken the extra load to make up the required supply. Members considered that Mr. Pemberton should be met, and on Mr. Price’s motion it was decided that the application be agreed to.

Renewals at Putaruru. i An application for credit for 72 ■ street lamps was made by the Putaruru Town Board. Lamp renewals 1 for the year ended September, 1926, I totalled 82 and averaged 880 hours 1 per lamp. A credit of 10 lamps had been made. As the board guaranteed t the lamps to bum 1000 hours credit I was asked for the remaining 72 ! which appeared to come under the 1 board’s undertaking to replace free, j The Chairman : That is merely a matter of interpretation, j The manager said the letter had been replied to and the matter had ( been adjusted. Power for Waihi Beach. j The Tauranga Power Board inquir- ! ed whether a working arrangement j could be arrived at whereby the Wai- ‘ hi beach might be supplied by the ! Thames Valley board. As only a ‘ small area would be affected it was * suggested that the best method to 1 adopt would be to alter the boundary of the respective districts, j Mr. Strange said that a canvass, was being taken of the Waihi plains and he suggested that the result of this be awaited. i Mr. Corbett said a meeting of set- ! tiers was being held to discuss the ■ * matter. After some discussion it was finally resolved that the Tauranga board be advised that investigations were 5 being made and that they would be • notified of the result at an early date.