BIG PUBLICITY SCHEME.

Putaruru Press, Volume VIII, Issue 325, 13 February 1930, Page 5

BIG PUBLICITY SCHEME.

DISCUSSION BY EOARD. Electricity in Every Home. By a majority of five to four the Thames Valley Power Board decided to support a proposal sponsored by the Power Boards’ Association to en- . gage in a combined advertising .scheme to stimulate the use of electricity in New Zealand. The total • cost of the scheme will be £20,000, of which the power boards will provide £BOOO, the Government £BOOO and the Electrical Trades Federation . £4OOO. The Thames Valley Board’s share will be £373 7s, payable in quarterly instalments over three years. The matter was introduced by a letter from the Goldberg Advertising Agency, which had been appointed by the Power Boards’ Association to conduct the campaign. The company pointed out that for every £2 sub- . scribed by the combined power boards there would be £2 subscribed by the Government and £1 by the Electrical Federation. / Speaking in support.of the scheme, the chairman, Mr. F. Strange, said the Thames Valley Board had considered in former years that it was no use going in for advertising on a large scale if it had not the power to supply. Now conditions had .changed, as the board had plenty oi power. The scheme had been re.cbmTvinnrln/1 V»vr +Vift nrtTifprPTlPP flf TlOWftl

mended by thq conference of power boards but had to be confirmed by each board. A strong committee had gone into the matter, and the present proposals were the result of its deliberations. He had been one of the strongest opponents of the scheme in the past, but now there was ample electricity available, and it was a good thing to bring electricity into every home. The cost to the board would be about £2 a week for three years, which was very low considering benefits to be expected. He moved thafr the board approve the scheme as submitted. Mr. J. Price seconded the motion, .saying he thought all boards should come into the scheme, as they would all reap the benefits of the publicity. Mr. J. Pohlen said it was a proposition that did not altogether appeal to him. He questioned whether the large expenditure was warranted. He could not support the motion. The best advertisement the board could have was efficient service. Mr. F. E. Flatt said the country power boards did not have enough representation on the committee that would manage the scheme. In the Auckland province the only representative would be a city man. The speaker was of the opinion that the board could get better value by expending the same sum itself on employing representatives to demonstrate the use of electricity to consumers in its area. Mr. C. A. Arthur thought the board should get in touch with its consumers through, the local press. The chairman said the matter had been thrashed out at the various power board conferences. Instruction’ of consumers was one of the principal lines the advertising would take. The scheme did not* mean that advertising would be through the city papers only, but it would be through the local press also. ’f The i engineer explained the proposed scheme, saying he thought the expenditure would be fully justified. Mr. Flatt thought the country papers would not get their fair share of the expenditure on advertising. Mr. McCormack said that after hearing the engineer’s explanation he was prepared to support the scheme. Mr. Thomas thought members might have had more information about the scheme. The manager gave further particulars and read a list of papers in the, board’s district which would be used for advertising. He said the idea was that the demonstrators employed by power boards should follow up this advertising campaign. Most of the boards employed demonstrators. Mr. Price said it was a campaign for greater efficiency resulting from the use of electrical equipment. The board would reap the benefit of the advertising scheme in greatly increased orders for power. , Mr. Flatt contended that the bulk of the expenditure on the scheme would go to the cities. The manager said the real point was that they would have to follow the scheme up with demonstrations. The matter was then put. to the meeting and carried by 5 to 4. The chairman: I am satisfied, gentlemen, that you will not regret It. Mr. Flatt (good humouredly): I ’ am satisfied that you will. 4