POWER BOARD

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 275, 15 July 1932, Page 7

POWER BOARD

I QUE5TIGN 6? RE3UCTION I , FCR RURAL POWER | AKEAS. ; _____ • | USUAL MONTHLY MEETING.

The usual meeting of the Bay of Plenty Power Board was held on Thursday morning'. There were present: Messrs. H. R, Iiogg (cliairman), Hon. J. B. Gow, A. Peebles, S. Maxwell, W. Burrett, J. Tabb, J. W. Summer, A. J. Burt, , G. A. Hathaway (secretary), and J. D. Dicker (engineer) . A lctter was received frorn the N.Z. Electrie Power Boards Supply Vssociation, replying to a request by the Bay of Plenty board that the association shouid endeavour to get the Government to reduce the charges for the hulk supply of electricity to vuial boards to the rate at which it was supplied to boards with a more thickly populated area. The association thought there was little hope of ohtaining- the suggested reduction, but promised to hring the matter up when Parliament re-assembled. Mr. Gow remarked that it did not seem fair that at a time lilce the present when the Government was making a big parade of its desire to aseist primary producers, it shouid

diserimmate between rural and metropolitan boards to the disadvantage of the rural boards. Several other members spoke to the same effect, and it was decided that this aspeet of the position shouid be brought under the notice of the j Minister. i A firm of solicitors in Whakatane wrote requesting the board to pay £13 for damage done to a building next door to the board's premises in Whakatane. The damage was caused when the roof blew off the power board's building. The board decided that as it was only a tenant of the building it could not accept any liahility in the matter.The engineer's report was then rcad and adopted. A legal opinion .was received to the effect that the 71 per cent. interest charged on unpaid instalments shouid he reduced to 61 per cent. A lengthy letter was received from ! the returning officer at Whakatane ' in reply to the suggestion that his . fee for the recent election shouid be reduced from 10 guineas to 5. After considering the letter the board decided the 10 guineas shouid be paid. A letter was received from Mr. F. Bennctt coneerning service and r-e-pairs rendered to a water heater, Mr. Bennett contending that he was entitled to free service whereas he had been charged. It was decided that the matter he left in the h'ands of the engineer. Mr. J. T. Tabb asked what the position was with regard to free service, as a number of con|.imers appeared to he somewhat confused. The engineer pointed out that the period of free service varied with the type and make of the appliances. | Engineer's Report. j Reporting to the board, the engin- j eer-manager (Mr. J. D. Dicker) stated that eonsiderable damage to I ' stock and plant had occurred during j ' the storm of June 16, but, he said, i the actual value of the loss could not j i be ascertained until repairs had been \ effected. Thanks were due to resi- j dents who had assisted in removing i j the perishable stock during the heiglit i of the storm. Certain alterations in the board's j I building at Whakatane had been de- : i eided upon, and the owners had i agreed to this course. The proposed ; alterations were approved by the : board. ' ! During the period of the change- ; over to the Arapuni supply, excep- j tional peaks were experienced until 1 adjustment could be arranged at the ! Edgecumbe sub-station to allow the distribution system to operate at normal voltage. j General maintenance work had been carried out during the last quarter and 18 service lines had been erected.