POWER BOARD’S METHODS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 314, 14 November 1929, Page 5

POWER BOARD’S METHODS.

MR. ALLEN’S COMMENTS. Farmers’ Union Discussion. Morrinsville Member Supported. Further strong support of Mr. J. M. Allen’s comments at the October and November meetings of the Thames Valley Power Board was expressed at Saturday evening’s meeting of the Morrinsville branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. Mr. J. Pirrit: Is there any reply to our letter? The secretary read a brief communication. Mr. J. E. Leeson: Was that written after the board meeting? Yes. Mr. F. Seifert asked Mr. Allen to give an expression of his views on the report.

The president (Mr. G. Pirrit): That would be stirring up trouble for him. Mr. Seifert: We could take it in committee. The president: The board apparently thinks that Mr. Allen is throwing cold water.

Mr. Seifert: The board got hold of the wrong end of the stick. I feel sure that Mr. Allen’s comments were aimed at assisting the board. The president: I was not under the impression that Mr. Allen was out to criticise, but to improve the board’s methods. He seems to have been taken up the wrong way. Mr. Allen said the position was

that the report was too long to digest at short notice, and further time had been given him to consider it. It would be discussed at next board meeting, following which the matter would be open for discussion by the branch. The chairman (Mr. Strange) had suggested that a copy of the report be sent to the branch, but one of the members had squashed that. However, this action of the board was spoiled as the report was published in full by the Morrinsville Star.

A member: Just as well we have the Morrinsville Star. The president: One member in particular appeared to be up in arms. Mr. Seifert: The chief objection to extending the trading operations seems to be the difficulty in securing power supplies. Mr. Allen: The board is not certain of Arapuni, and on account of this uncertainty does not ' want to start a large campaign. The trouble is due to the erosion and it is in the air that it may be necessary to empty the lake.

Mr. M. E. Barrowclough said that Mr. A. Topham, one of a deputation from the branch that waited on the board recently, had asked whether it was the board’s policy to encourage the use of power. The reply had been, the speaker understood, that the board was out to limit the use of power.

Mr. Allen: That applied to peak loads.

Mr. Seifert: That is good policy, but the board should endeavour to increase sales as much as possible, or else there is something radically wrong.

Mr. Barrowclough: Mr. Topham was referring to. the load other than peak, when the power would cost the board nothing. They said they were out to prevent the use of cookers, grills, etc., as much as possible. Mr. Seifert: The position at Horahora should be finalised soon. Mr. G. Pirrit: The erosion is still going on. A difficult position would arise if anything went wrong, as Auckland would demand to have first call on other power supplies. Mr. Barrowclough asked Mr. Allen how the statement that load other than peak load not paying could be reconciled with the fact that charges for* salary and purchase of power in bulk were based on peak load ? He did not see how the board could lose. Mr. Allen: I am not prepared to comment on the report in public until it has been discussed by the board. On the suggestion of the president further discussion was deferred until after the next board meeting.