THE COST OF ELECTRIC POWER.

Shannon News, 22 December 1925, Page 3

THE COST OF ELECTRIC POWER.

MILKING MACHINES RATES. INCREASED BY INEFFICIENT GEAR. Speaking at this week’s meeting of the Horowh’enua Power Board Mr. W. E. Barber said some of the small milkers in the Foxton district thought they were being over charged and had complained about the amount electric power was costing as compared with benzine engines. Mr. Barber said the M“anawatu-Oroua Board had had to make concessions to the small milkers. One man had declared ho would go back to benzine if the cost was not less. ' The chairman: It would not be for long. The Consulting Engineer, Mr. Overton, said the Manawatu-Oroua Board had had to make concessions because it put in two-h.p. motors which were two big for small milkers. In Horowhenua they had put in motors for the small herds. That made a difference of £3 per year. The complaints come from one’ area where the settlers were not canvassed by the Board, but by some contractors and they may have had motors that were too large installed. Further benzine was now costing 12s 6d whereas it was costing 25s when the Board commenced operations. . Mr. Barber said the settlers, were basing their complaints on what it cost last year. Mr. Ross said he thought the trouble was really a misunderstanding. The chief complaint was that of a man who put in his own motor and thought he was being charged rent for it. If it was explained, he thought everything would be alright. The* chairman said Mr. Jack was visiting the .locality that day. The secretary said all the complainants had been visited. One settler was quite satisfied and would not sign the complaint. It was possible that bigger motors were installed than were required, but one man would not have his changed though an offer had been made to do so. The officers of the 'Board had never said that power was cheaper than benzine. The policy of the Board, as frequently expressed, was that the first reduction possible in rates would be given to milking machine users. At the end of the year the Board could take into consideration the giving of a reduction, but it would not be advisable from a financial point ol view at the present time. The chairman said that ,in all businesses it was recognised that the larger the .consumer the greater was the concession he was entitled to ask for. The 'smaller contemner ialways paid at a higher rate than the larger. At no time when the loan proposals were before the people did he or the engineer tell them that power would, cost less than benzine. Mr. Jack had foundthat some of the old-fashioned vacuum pumps on milking machines used up to i-h.p. more than the modern pumps and that meant £3 a year. In other cases consumers had left their old engine shafting coupled up so that they could switch on to the engine, in the case of a break-down of power. This was quite unnecessary; though one could not blame them for being cautious if they were prepared to pay for it. When the charges were fixed it was decided that the first reduction should be to the dairying side of the Board’s business. It certainly would riot be advisable to make any reduction at present. Mr. Kilsby said he was frequently questioned as to when charges were to be reduced and only that day had been asked when the meter rent would be remitted. The engineer said that while the charge for milking motors might seem a little high, it had to be recognised that the charges were very low for water heating and lighting in the country.