HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

Shannon News, 23 July 1926, Page 3

HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

JULY MEETING. The Horowhenua power Board met on Monday, Mr G. A. Monk being chairman. There were also present: Messrs C. Kilshy, A. Moss, W. E. Barber, A. J. Petherick, T. G. Vincent and W. H. Gunning. Leave of absence was granted Mr A. Seifert, who is indisposed. Mir D. W. Matheson, who has gone to Canada on a health trip, was granted three months leave of absence. SCHOOL HEATING RATE. The Tokomaru School Committee enquired as to the cost of installing four electric heaters in the school, and what the heating rate would be, the heaters being used in the winter only. The chairman said that he would suggest making a quotation for six months and then cutting off the power. Mr Overton said he thought a special school rating charge might be more suitable, applicable ,to schools only. Mr Gunning said there were days during summer when the weather was cold, and it would be hard if the power was cut off at the time when it might be needed. It was finally resolved that the chairman, secretary, and engineer constitute a committee to confer on this matter, and have power to act. RAHUI VALLEY RETICULATION. The chairman reported having investigated the revenue possibilities in the proposed supply of power to set- j tiers in Rahui Valley. As a result of his observations he believed that these people could be linked up with the board’s service, and on a payable footing. The work will be undertaken at an early date. MANGAHAO LOAD PROBLEM.

The Tararua Power Board wrote expressing alarm at the statements in the Press concerning the alleged .shortage of water at Mangahao. It was suggested that, as the matter was one of the'gravest importance, an opportunity should be sought to interview the Minister of Public Works on the subject, during the currency of the forthcoming'Power Boards’. Conference in Wellington. The chairman said the Board had to assume that the Department was doing all it could to speed up Waikaremoana. A deputation would not be out of place, and. if it- accomplished nothing ’more than showing the position in regard to distribution, and that the Power Boards were fully aiive to the danger. Mr Ross asked what reply had been made to the Department, when it had asked for guarantees for an increased load if Waikaremoaua were speeded up. v

The chairman said that a large proportion of the Horowhenua Power Board’s load was that of flaxmills, which, according to experience in the past, was not a permanent industry, and the Board had not felt justified in making any further guarantee for 12 months at least. They could see what' the position was t at the end of that time, but the way in which the load was gradually being built-up. showed there was little likelihood of there being any difficulty in falling into line with the Government’s pro posal 12 months hence. Mr Gunning considered the question was whether the Department could accelerate the reserve at Mangahao, as on several occasions there had-Men a serious shortage of water. Then, too, with an increasing load there was some apprehension in regard to the approaching summer. The secretary said the stand-by plants could be called into use. Possibly, replied the chairman, that might he urged by the deputation, but he understood that already the work was being carried on well with-, in the scheduled time, and the authorities were evidently fully cognisant of the requirements for the coming summer, as they must know that the Boards were putting heavier loads on. Wellington, it was presumed, could carry its own load, as could Palmerston North by the local plants. SHANNON PROGRESSING.

The Shannon Borough Council ashed to have extra street lamps installed at Bryce Street, corner of Elizabeth and Stansell streets, corner of Clapham and Ballance streets. The secretary reported having advised the Council that the matter would be given attention at an early date, and the lamps erected, where indicated. The Chairman: Shannon seems to be forging ahead! Mr Gunning: Yes, Sir! Slowly, but surely. FINANCE COMMITTEE’S RECOMD ATI O N. The Finance Committee recommended increases in the salaries of the executive officers of the engineering and clerical staffs. The Chairman said the Committee had carefully gone into the matter and had before*it the figures of other Boards The Hutt Board, which was very similar to Horowhenua was pay-ing-considerably more than this Mr Ross tabled a motion to the effect that-owing to The esWmatedsmall increase of revenue_ wdhm the^n 12 months, and m view of the neces sity for economy as disclosed by t • baiance sheet, the Board regretted could not see its way to increase s - aries, but will review the position a the end of six months. Mr Gunning seconded the motion. ' In speaking to the motion, Mr Ross said the Board would have to be very careful during the next 1% montlis. and the position, as disclosed by tne estimated revenue, did warrant increase®. The business likely to ac-

.. » ... - ■ cilue was no-t" going to increase the duties of the staff. Construction was practically complete, the Board was largely a supply board and the duties must, therefore, have eased off considerably. According to the estimates the expected revenue was £27,600, cut of which £13,000 would be paid for electricity and £10,040 for’ salaries and general expenses, leaving a balance of only £4560, which was only 2J per cent, on the capital for this year. Of course the Board had made provision out of loan for interest and sinking fund, but. that was not working on proper business lines. They must save every penny they could and he would like the staff to he impressed with tire need for every economy for the next. 12 months. If they got over that without striking a rate they would do well. The estimated increase in revenue was only £6OO, hut they proposed to increase salaries by £IOO, which was 18 per cent, on the revenue.

Mr T. G. Vincent said it was necessary to go back further and find out whether the salaries, apart from the technicians, were not too high, and whether the general office staff was drawing salaries far in excess of those drawn by men in Wellington employed by large commercial houses. He knew an accountant in Wellington whose firm was turning over five times’as much business as the Horowhenua Power Board, and yet the salary was not as high as that paid by the Board. The Chairman: That doesn’t mean to say he is getting paid, though. Mr C. Kilsby said he was quite in agreement with Mr Ross, as the Board must look before it leapt. They could gO’ on for another twelve months- as they were. ’ Mr Gunning also thoughh'the suggested increases were premature. The salaries were fairly adequate as conipared with the Hutt and commercial houses.

Mr Ross said be was not going on those lines at all, but because the Board could not afford it- By increasing the* salaries the Board would not be increasing the revenue. If the Board could see positive results the speaker would be in. favour of the increases, but he did not feel that this would be so, and he hoped that th e officers, too, would realise the position. He would be one of the first to move an increase when the revenue warranted it.

The Chairman said that, in making the recommendation, the Finance Committee was carrying out the instruction of the Board to review the salaries. The question of revenue was a most important one, but estimates , could not be taken as an absolutely infallible criterion of the revenue of the Board. It was pointed out previously that they were framed on very safe lines, and, possibly, if nothing untoward happened this year—no slumps, etc. —the receipts would approach nearer the £30,000 mark than was estimated in' the provisional figures. Taking revenue wholely and solely, tlie matter was. not,, being tested on an equitable basis.. Cost of work had to be considered and not increases of revenue. In his ; opinion the Board did a foolish thing at its inception in appointing an officer of another local body tO' do the work. It was realised that .the work would bej in arrears as a result of that, but. not to the extent to which it actually went. The accountant had to start from the beginning and his work had been the subject of congratulation by the audit officer. It was, particularly, in recognition of that goad work done, as well as that of the secretary and eugine'er, that the Finance committee made, the recommendations. It was small, but it was in recognition of good work done. The question as to whether the revenue could or could not stand it, had been fully considered and the committee thought it practicable. Of course, the eommittee must .bow to the will of the Board, but file former felt that as it had a good staff perhaps some recognition was (lue. Mr Ross’s/ motion to defer the matter for six 'months was then carried. Treasurer’s Report, The Treasurer (Mr. P. W. Goldsmith) reported that the accounts paid since last Board meeting and now submitted for confirmation totalled £494 of loan money and £lll3 power account - The accounts in the pay roll for the day (including the electricity account) amounted to £4482 15s Id. The quarterly account for electricity amounted to £3lll 8s: The maximum demand was from 7.3( j to.B a.m. on Tuesday the 13t.i A Since /last meeting the sum'of £2850 had beefn collected, the chief item being £VO'O2 for sale of electricity and meter rent, The total receipts since April 1 k had been £12,610, made up as follows-) —Electricity and meter rents £9050 39s 3d, penalties £25 17s Bd, interest [on installations £lol ranges,/ motors and watcr-heateis <~ 7s 4d, installations and service lines £2560/9s 4d, cottage rents and sundries £9B os. lid. . , . The! following comparison of re ? cl P“ for the period Ist April to July 10th of 19 9 5; and 1926 mav be interesting: u-m ana » 1925 192 (j EleJtricity and meter rents 4125 9051 Installations & service lines 3817 2obli Motors, ranges & waterheaters , w il- will thus be seen that the returns