POWER BOARD POLICY.

Shannon News, 27 August 1926, Page 4

POWER BOARD POLICY.

SPARSELY POPULATED AREAS. MUST PAY THEIR OWU WAY. Reporting to last week’s meeting of the Horowhenua Power Board, the Engineer (Mr. J. A. Smith) referred as follows to an area near Paraparaumu, the residents of which had asked to be reticulated for power: —“A preliminary canvass and survey has been made of Arawata, Muaupoko and Otaihanga Roads near Paraparaumu. : The estimated, cost of the high tension I line to a point near Mr. Caterer's house, [ provided permission could be obtained [to cross private property from ihe I Main Road, and the necessary low tension to serve the prospective consumers, along tire two first roads is £530, and the estimated revenue from the present indications of seven consumers would be £7B per year, therefore it would be necessary for these people to agree to install apparatus that would bring in a revenue of about £IOO per yer. With regard to Otaihanga Road, this could not be considered at 1 present as there are only four probable consumers on this road, and the cost of the line would be about £SOO, and the ■estimated revenue about £4B per year.” Mr. A. ;J. Petheriek, a southern member of the Board, asked the chairman what rate per cent of interest on capital was represented by the revenue required. ■ The chairman stated that to meet in terest and sinking fund and cost of current, 18 per cent was required. Mr. Petheriek remarked that, to him, it seemed unfair, that people living away from centres should be debarred from installing the power, pn account of its being too costly. The cost of maintaining those lines ought to be borne by the whole power board area. People in those outlying districts did not derive the same social pleasures from life, as did those nearer the towns. Who paid for the main line when it was laid? The cost was spread right over the district! The chairman: Oh, no, those people who haven't the benefit of electricity did not pay a penny towards it. Mr. Petheriek considered it was unfair that people wanting the' power should be debarred from getting it. The cost should be spread over the whole district and not just over the particular centre. People living a little way out were anxious to have all the facilities possible. , The chairman, in reply, said that the ) original principle of the Board had 1 been to build trunk lines and such subsidiary lines as would pay. He did not know that it would be advisable for 1 the Board, at this juncture at any rate, | to attempt this communal system, as Jit cwould probably entail a little “kicking” and trouble. Gradually they would be able to spread these lines within reach of the people to whom Mr. Petheriek referred, but it would take time. If. lines were built irrespective of their ability to pay, then every house in the district would have the same claim, and the line had to be drawn somewhere. Another £IOO,OOO could not be spent unless there was some prospect of its returning interest. Possibly if the people like those at Paraparaumu could be shown the necessity for obtaining this fate of interest, they might make a little ektra effort to bring the revenue up. His own idea was that until they found that this scheme was thoroughly payable with its head well above water, they should not dip too deeply into those lines that would not pay interest. Some of the Boards had built lines down almost every road, and he knew of one board that was obliged to take a number down. Maybe the Horowhenua Board's policy was a little hard, but it was, nevertheless, a sound one. It was that every line had to pay at least interest and sinking fund on the cost and the charge for electricity. The Board was very anxious not. to collect a rate. If that necessity arose, then people in the sparsely-popu-lated areas had some claim on the Board. Mr. Petheriek was of the opinion that until people in the outside sections were supplied, the Board should not go into the question of reducing the cost of power. Other people in the district were enjoying all the advantages' and benefits of the power and even at the prie'es paid to-day, taking into, consideration the trouble of “b'euzine lights and kerosene, they were getting full value for money. As to a rate, how many people in the centres who could afford to take the power and light were dodging it. The Board might take into consideration the question of rating these people with the object of helping the people further out who were anxious and willing to take, but could not, owing to the cost of taking the lines out. Mr. Vincent: After having it out at our place, I want everyone to have it. The chairman: But you don't want to see a rate, do you? The chairman asked Mr. Peth'erick to arrange a meeting of the Paraparaumu people interested, which' he and the engineer : would attend and 'explain the position. This Mr. Petheriek agreed to do.