METERING ELECTRIC POWER.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 292, 13 June 1929, Page 6

METERING ELECTRIC POWER.

SYSTEM UNDER FIRE. Morrinsville Farmers’ Opinion. Power charges were again under review by the Morrinsville branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union on Saturday evening. A -deputation comprising Messrs. M. E. Barrowclough and J. E. I-eescn,_ had been appointed to wait on the Thames Valley Power Board at its last meeting to protest against the installation of meters, on the ground that the small farmer would be penalised, while the farmer in a large way would reap • the benefit. These members were unable to attend the meeting, and the secretary, Mr. J. L. Faulkner, and Mr. A. Topham represented the branch.

Reporting on the interview, Mr. Topham said that though an hssurance had been given that the meter system would not be more expensive than the flat rate, the deputation had left with the impression that to the small farmer power would actually be dearer. . ‘ Mr. J. Allen, member of the hoard, said he had voted in favour of the meters. He did not consider : himself accountable to the union for j tlie way in which he voted, but to ! the ratepayers of Morrinsville, whom | he represented. The meter system 1 seemed the only way to obviate the wastage that was occurring. It seemed to him only fair to the townspeople that the country residents should pay for the power they consumed. The figures submitted by the power board engineer had convinced him that the farmers would not object to a change, as the new rate was more generous. The proposed new rate was 3d a unit, plus £4 a horse power, less 10 per cent for prompt payment. Mr. Allen read the report of the j engineer, which has previously been published in these columns. Certainly a lot of expense would be involved in installing and reading meters, but the system adopted seemed the only one possible. Mr. S. Ferguson: The principle is right. A man should pay for what he uses. Mr. F. Seifert asked how long a meter would last. Would the consumer have to pay for it in a few years ? Mr. Allen said it was possible that a loan would have to be raised. He added that it was unfortunate a member of the union had stated the board had committed a breach of faith with the consumers. This was not so. His own view was that he had been on a good wicket in the past, and even though he might not be on such a good wicket in the future, it could not be helped. Mr. Seifert agreed with Mr. Allen that the board had the right to change its basis of charges. The president, Mr. G. Pirrit, said that the canvasser had assured him, when he put the power 1 in, that he could use as much power as he liked and it was on this understanding that he had agreed. Now the Power Board turned round and told him that he would have to pay extra if he used his motor, for instance, to saw wood.

Mr. Seifert said that where the farmers were paying £3O before they would now have to pay £35 or £4O. The meters might save a certain amount of waste, but this would not meet the expense of installation and reading. The only way seemed to be a general reduction in expenses. He cited cases of time wasted by power board workmen. On one occasion men On a job went off shooting rabbits, and he thought they were going to camp on the job permanently. Mr. Allen said this fact was fairly well known. It was the duty of every farmer to report cases of wastage to the board. If this sort of thing was brought under the notice of the board it would be checked. Mr. Seifert said the system adopted by the Central Board was to let work by tender and make a charge for the supervision of the engineer. Again, in the case of a Thames Valley Board job, chains of wire were left lying about and were never collected. Mr. Howie said there were eight gangs working in the board’s area and supervision was difficult. To lot the work by tender would lay the board open to inferior work. Mr. Seifert said he had not noticed faulty work in the Central Board’s area. Mi-. Topham said the loss in the Thames Valley area last year was £ICOO. Mr. Allen said that if there were cases of hardship for small farmers an adjustment would no doubt he made. These new rates adopted were liable to review and alteration.

Mr. G. Pirrit said that if the charge through metering was going to be any higher a number of farmers would revert to benzine engines. These were just as cheap, but not so convenient.

Several members cited cases of waste. Mr. G. Pirrit said he know where a roll of about 15 chains of wire had been left and was still to be found. Mr. Davies recalled an instance of a Morrinsville doctor’s car having got stuck in the mud and being hauled out by a “ rope ” of about 10 chains of wire furnished by several power board employees. The wire was later thrown away.

A motion of thanks was carried to Mr. Allen for the information given.