POWER BOARD ACCOUNTS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VIII, Issue 359, 9 October 1930, Page 1

POWER BOARD ACCOUNTS.

THE DISCOUNT DATE.

Payment on the 20th Wanted

Reference to the inconvenience caused to town and country consumers by the fact that the discount date for power accounts is no longer the 20th of the month, but is 14 days from that date of the reading of the meter, was made at the October meeting of the Thames Valley Power Board on Tuesday. After a discussion the finance committee was asked to report at the next meeting of the board on the possibility of making accounts payable on a certain date.

“ Would it be possible to have accounts for power used for milking plant made payable on the 20th of the month instead of 14 days after the reading of the meter as at present,” wrote a Matamata farmer. “ My reason in asking you this favour is so that it will be possible to get the discount allowed on these accounts, which cannot possibly be paid until I get my cheque from the factory.” The Finance Corporation of New Zealand, Ltd., Hamilton, also asked if the accounts of its clients, which it paid, could all be made payable on the 20th of the month.

The manager said the advantage of 14 days’ discount was that the accounts came in regularly and could be handled easily by the staff. If all accounts were paid on the 20th there would be a rush of work for the office. However, if the board was agreeable to a change of policy it would be possible to arrange for accounts to fall due at a certain date. Mr. J. W. Anderson: I think there should be a fixed date. It is hard for the poor straggler who cannot pay before the 20th. There is no doubt that with the low price of butterfat they cannot pay. He thought farmers would be better pleased with a few days’ grace one month and three weeks the next month, than 14 days grace as at present. The manager pointed out that by getting the accounts in every day the board was keeping its overdraft low. Mr. Anderson: It is all very well to talk about our overdraft; but these farmers are right up to the limit of their overdrafts. Mr. J. M. Allen (Morrinsville) said business people would welcome a fixed discount date, as they were accustomed to paying their accounts on the 20th of each month. As a matter of policy was involved the question was deferred until next meeting to allow the finance committee to see if a reversion to a fixed discount date would interfere with the work of the office.