ADVERTISING ELECTRICITY.

Shannon News, 18 March 1927, Page 3

ADVERTISING ELECTRICITY.

DECISION OF HOROWHENXTA POWER BOABD. LOAD DEVELOPING AS PAST AS IT CAN BE HANDLED. The question of combined advertising by Power Boards' was again before the Horowhenua Board on Tuesday, when members were’ unanimous in the opinion that there would be no justification in this district at the present time in spending public money to stimulate the sales of electrical appliances. The matter came up at the February meeting of the Board, when a letter was received from Mr 0. G. Camp, secretary of the special committee set up by the Power Boards, setting forth a scheme for joint advertising and setting up a standard of equipment. At Tuesday's meeting a communieaion was received from the Waitemata Power Board suggesting for this purpose the setting aside of onehalf per cent, of .the annual revenue of the Boards. A full report on the proposal would be presented to the. next conference, but *he writer thought that the matter could be expedited if. the Boards took action prior to the conference. All Power Boards were being circularised, suggesting that they pass a resolution, as the Waitemata Power Board had done, favouring the half per cent, allocation. The chairman (Mr G. A Monk) said he did not think that this Board had ever definitely voiced its opinion on this subject. He was afraid that the attitude of the Waitemata Board was likely to , frighten this Board out of the scheme. Their own revenue woul l be over £30,000 this year. At one-half per cent, this would give £l5O a year to the scheme. He did not know whether this Board was unique as compared with other Boards, but the necessity for an advertising’ campaign had not been apparent to him in this district. There had been a sure and gradual growth of the load, and Mangahao had been severely thxed. The Board had had a snlendid response froin the people throughout the district, and he did not think the Board was justified in asking them to install appliances for which they might have no use. In this district they were only a people of moderate means, and th’i majority could net afford any undue luxury as far as 1 electricity was concerned. If an advertising campaign were entered upon, it 1 might put a load on them which would make it impossible for them to meet their obligations. He. could understand Waitemata possibly having to push ’ electricity ■as against gas, and an advertising scheme would assist them much more than it would assist the country people. He could not recommend this Board to agree to any definite contribution. The subject would have to be handled very carefully or they would be drawn into something which they did not want. The amount of the levy proposed was much too heavy, and in the case of this Board it would not be justified. Mr W. E. Barber said he .thought the time was quite inopportune and if there was to be any spending of money it should be in the direction of reducing the rate to the consumer. . The chairman remarked that, judging by the number of ranges and water heaters installed, the people of this dm t-vict had supported the Board wonder * U Hy. Mr W. H. Gunning: The scheme might, be good for the Waitemata district, but we have got our people pretty well educated up to the advantages of installing electric power. Perhaps •> some future date demonstrations in certain centres might be justified, but i do not think they are wanted now. Mr A. J. Petherick said that if the Board had the money to spare, it would be best for it to go back to the The Chairman: To the people who have already responded. Mr Petherick said that the proposal bad a bearing on the firms who supplied electrical appliances. The Chairman: In fairness to them it must be pointed out that they woul 1 ccnatribute a portion of the sum ..re.;. qU Mr"petherick: But we are not dealing in appliances, and these are the people who are doing it. It is their duty, anc not that of the Power .Board, to ad The secretary (Mr P. W. Goldsmith t pointed out that the argument used b - the promoters of the scheme was tha. the Power Boards had nine millions of <apital invested. . The chairman said that the Engineer’s report showed that the number (.. water-heaters now installed m the am trict was equivalent to one fer 5.6(> consumers, and that there was an electric range for every 10.6 consumers. The chairman thought this a very good P °Mr 10 C. Kilsby said he did not think it was necessary for the Board to ad vertise, as the money would be practically wasted in this case. The people know the benefits they could get, while the electric shops were out to do business. The Board was sellihg'current a.fast as it could get it.

The Engineer (Mr J. A. Smith) informed the Board that the load had crone up steadily. He thought the idea of the advertising scheme wajs to spread the cost of publicity over all the districts and also to pass a share, of it on to the Government and to „ who were selling appliances. . It. was desired to educate the people up to the using of the smaller appliances. The load in this district, however, was mounting up as quickly as' the Mangahao station could cope with it. On one occasion the headworks staff asked thin district's staff to transfer some of the lav load on to the night load, so that the steam plant in Wellington .could supply some of the current, to m arrangements were _ made th’ change, however, rain came -and replenished the Mangahao *nris.On the motion of the chairman,, seconded by Mr Kilsby. it was resolve 1 that no action be taken m regard to t!.e Waitemata Board’s request, Jt being considered at this juncture not opportune to undertake an advertisi-.g campaign in this district, owing, nrstly, to the restricted output by Manga hao, and, secondly, because the load in this district will come on as fast as it can be economically' dealt with by the Board.