HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

Shannon News, 20 March 1925, Page 3

HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING,

The monthly meeting qtf tile Horowhenua Power Board was held in tne Borough Chambers on Tuesday, the chairman (Mr G, A. Monk) presiding. Also present Messrs Brown, Ross, Barber, Kiisby* Mackay, Sierert, and Gunning. Letwe of absence was granted to Mr D. W. MaUheson. CORBESPOxNIDENCE.

From the postmaster, Levin, to the effect that he had been in communication with the Postmaster, shannon, regarding telephonic looimnunioation at such times as the Shannon Bureau was closed, and that lie would further advise the Board when the arrangements were concluded.—Received. Mr R. B. Kilgour wrote asking when the settlers on the Waitohu and South Manakau Road were to be connected up. He stated that when the scheme was started, the Government told them that it would revolutionise farming, bult t(hat now the larmers seemed to be a secondary consideration. The chairman said that there was hardly any need to reiterate the Board’s policy, but he would recommend that a reply be sent that this district would be canvassed within the next three months. —Agreed. Mr H. Bruce Lethbridge stated that some time ago he had made arrangements willh the Board to have the wiring of his house done. He was now desirous of having the work done by some other firm than the Board’s contractors, whom, he considered unsatisfuctoi'y in their methods.

The chairman said that the purport of Mr Lethbridge’s letter was apparently that he wished to draw out of the group. He would move that fie be given that permission. He would suggest further that Mr Lethbridge be informed that the same Inspector who would have inspected the wiring under the Board’s contract, would still have to inspect and pass it. No contract had been let in this case so that there was no contractor who could feel agrieved. Also he was going to get tlie power in anyhow, so that no harm was done.—-Agreed. From the Otaki Borough Council pointing out that under the latest arrangement of the Act, Board representatives were elected at the general Borough elections. The secretary (Mr P. W. Goldsmith) explained that the result of this would be that some ,ol' the members of the Board would be elected for two years, and some foim three. The '(Borough representatives would go out one year, and the County representatives on t|he next, instead of all going out together as. formerly.— The letter was received.

From the Shannon Borough Council acknowledging receipt of draft agreement between the Power Board and the Borough Council, which they considered unnecessary. Should the Board insist on one, however, they considered that the cost should he apportioned between the Board and Council. The chairman said that this matter was being dealt with. —Received. ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT. Accounts totalling £232.1 9s 2d were passed for payment. TREASURER’S REPORT.

Loan Monies. —TO' tile date of the meeting the total amount of loan monies received stands at , £135,000, made up as follows: —A.M.P. society £BO,OOO, Government Life Insurance, first loan £40,000; Government Life Insurance, pt. 2nd loan £15,000. Te balance ,of the second loan, £25,000 will be paid in monthly instalments extending to November next. The loan expenditure is well up to the amount received, but there will be considerable repayments from installations, as the consumers pay the Board the amount of their accounts. Wiring Group Contracts: To date 24 «iroup contracts have been let,, the amount paid to contractors for work completed being £16,956 3s 7d. There is a balance, yet to pay when the work is completed, approximately £SBOO. As several of the Groups are nearly finished, a considerable portion of this amount will have to be provided lor at an early date. These contracts represent some 1200 Installations, which when all completed, will bring in a considerable amount of revenue. There are, of course, many installations throughout the district which will not come under the Group sysleother contracts: Engagements ante" ed into* by the Board in respect to poles, ; salaries, transformers, meters, (.•to. .amount to £4500. Summary of Accounts. It wl “ be seen that £5682 8s 2d has been paid out since the last meeting ot h Board. Insludcd m this sum -l e 1 following: —(a) Slight drat »« copper wire and bolts, £LO Its lhh (bi wiring group 8d; (c) wages pay sheets £971 los <d: (d) salaries,' £206 13s4d; (e) ir °“ h £lll 8s 7d; (I) totara blocks, £j- Jts sd; (g) motors, £484 ss. On account also of a contract loi J 8 Ferranti transformers, the sum ut £IOOO twais fou'wiarded throujgh oui bankers to London, to provide cash against documents. The premiuin. f exchange is 1 per cent, so that th< amount paid was £990. On the pay roll for the day motors insulators and cable account lorm the l-ir* r <.‘St items, whilst benzine and oil. !& lie purchase ot a Furd !■«.« dcliverv are well, up the list. Receipts: The Board's receipts >,■ installations to date amount to i. .1. (is Id This sum includes a ihii.il! Percentage for service lines. In trie power fund account the iecoipts to date have been as ' Electricity £1825 19s 7d, ranges, < heaters, etc, £147 ss, meter rents £ili 5s lOd; total £2087 10s. sd. , 0 jc , The present meter reading shoii c produce another £I3OO, . £4OO should he available irom syce lighting 1 accounts due at the end 01 the month. To the end of December the charges for electricity supplied t. the Board amounted to £670 Ls vd. pie first quarterly payment undei the Board’s .agreement with the 1 ud]ic Works Department will be due at the end of the month, the amount being £IO6O. . Audit.—The Government District. - Auditor spent some time with us but

was called away suddenly for other work and has not since returned. By next meeting I hope the audit will be complete and a statement of the estimated income and expenditure for tiie ensuing year be placed before the Board.

Meter' Reading.—As instructed by the Board steps were taken to secure the services Qf a meter reader, s°meplne possessing electrical knowledge and previous experience, combined with a good reputation, being sought. There were many applicants for tne position, and after due consideration and investigation Mr C. E. Sinister, of Wellington, was appointed. He has already commenced his work. It will be necessary for the Board to determine the best means lor transport with regard to this officer’s work. General. —Owing to our Group contract system, there is a consmerable amount of work to be done in getting quit accounts in this connection, in addition to the ordinary routine and every day duties. In view, too, of the near approach of the end of the financial year and the balancing of accounts and taking stock, the staff is putting in a very considerable amount of night work in the endeavour tq keep things as nearly as may be. up to date. The chairman said that in moving the adoption of (the report there were one qt two matters he would like to refer to.' In regard to loan money they would have to go rather steadily in the near future. They had a lot of money out, and until this began to come in they would he wise to keep expenditure down. Ii would be necessary to arrange transport lor the meter-reader. It might he possl- - to work in with some of the present cars, but this would have to be gone into. There was also the question of salaries for the office staff. The office was actually under-staffed, but whilst they were in their present premises they 'could not accommodate more. He would like the Finance Committee to review the whole question ojf these salaries and submit a report to next meeting. READING OF METERS.

Mr Gunning said he would iike to see meters read once a month. With small .consumers particularly the smaller the amount to be colleoled each period, the easier it would lie k> get it in. , . T 1 ~ Mr Ross supported tins. He would also like to have a fixed date tar payment fixed. The present method *d allowing payment within 14 days was the cause of a great deal oj extra work to the staff. Mr Seifert said that the proposal would be all right for the Boroughs, but the country districts, would be unnecessary, as the farmers were used to paying larger amounts and paying by cheque. , , . , . The treasurer said that he diunoted if one man could do the work il the meters were read monthly. ' The chairman said that he thought they should go quietly and without doubt they would find their feet in time. It would probably be a good thin"- to read meters in the Boroughs monthly, and, of course, they had promised these people that. mere would he a place in each Borough where they might pay accounts. The treasurer's report was adopted.

In all, 135,000 Americans left £41,000,000 behind them in France in 1923, establishing a record tourist year, according to statistics of the French national tourist office. Only 10 per cent went on business, t)he rest lor pleasure. In 305 strong and heavily-sealed wooden boxes, the United States mail steamer Sonoma took to Australia last, week almost the fortune of a Midas. Each of the drab boxes contained bars of gold, and the tola] value of the treasure was stated to be 13,500.000 dollars.— £2.7oo 000.