HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Shannon News, 23 September 1927, Page 4

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD. The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua Electric Power Board was held yesterday, there being present: Messrs Monk (chairman), Barber, Vincent, Bryant, Morse, Blenlchorn, Petherick, Gunning Goldsmith (secretary) and Smith (engineer). Leave of absence -was granted to Mr. Seifert. A letter was received from the secretary of the N.Z. Power Boards Association with regard to stamp duty on agreements. This covered a legal opinion that signed applications from intending consumers not containing any words of agreement lay them are not liable to agreement stamps, but are liable if they contain any words of agreement by consumers. COMPLAINTS DISPOSED OF. Mr. W. M. Higginson, Waikanac, wrote objecting to being penalised to the extent of 8s owing to his last account being paid three days late, and expressing the opinion that, the Board should “give and take, ’’ more'especially with those customers whose properties were crossed by the Board’s wires. The writer also complained that the Board sent men with motor lorries and horses to work on his property, and it took himself and a man the best pgrt of a day to sort out the sheep and cattle which became mixed owing to gates being left open. Further, a horse used by the workmen was grazed on his property for a week. Mr Higginson enclosed an account claiming JSI 8s 6d in satisfaction of labour and grazing charges. He also stated that he considered that, as he was paying £6 a year for a water-heater, the Board should make a refund for the number of days when it was not working owing to the power being cut off. The secretary reported that he had replied to Mr. Higginson pointing out: that his complaints about gates being left open and a horse being grazed on his land did not apply to this Board, as it had not sent any men on lo his property; also that the penalty charge was one that the office had to impose with strict impartiality, and that it had no option in the matter. The Chairman stated that the Board had no lines on Mr. Higginson’s property, its lines being on the road. The lines referred to belonged to the Public Works Department. He had received several suggestions that- the Board should be a little more lenient in regard to the penalty; but the line had to be drawn somewhere.

The secretary added that the current was cut off during the time that die staff were putting in a heavier wire to Mr. Higginson*s house to give him a heavier system.

On the motion of the Chairman, it was decided that the secretary’s reply be confirmed.

“It is rather strange, ” feaid, the Chairman, “how many people get it in their heads that we control the. main line. * ’ TREASURER’S REPORT. . The Treasurer (Mr. P. W. Goldsmith) presented the following report:— Revenue Earned. —I have to advise that a return has been prepared for the first four months of the financial year setting out the prices obtained from lighting, heating and power and how the revenue earned compares with the same period for 1926. This return with notes thereon was sent out to members of the board for their information and perusal. It will be o een therefrom that there is a total increase of revenue earned of 26.63 per cent., as compared with the same period 12 months ago. It is quite possible however, that this rate of increase may not be maintained over the whole year.

It is somewhat too early, to be certain on this point. Analysis of Installations in New Zealand.—A copy of the analysis of installations as at the 30th June, 1927, issued by the New Zealand Electrical Federation has also been posted to members as directed by the Board at its last meeting.

Balance Sheets. —The printed balance sheets of the Board up to the 31st March, 1926, are now available to mem. bers of the Board and can be used for filing and reference. Receipts. —The receipts for August are available and are set out as follows: —

installations, fittings and service lines, August, 1927, £643 0s 4d; AprilAugust, £3595 19s 2d. Interest on installation accounts, £62 17s 8d; £292 15s lOd. Consumers’ deposits, £10; £SO 10s. Electricity and meter rents, £2208 Is 2d; £17063 4s 6d. Penalties, £36 7s 6d; £lOl 17s. Rents and miscellaneous, £33 19s lOd; £l9l 4s sd.

' Totals, August, 1927, £2994 6s 6d; April-August, £21,295 10s lid.

ELECTRICITY AND METER RENTS,

For 5 months ended Aug. 31, 1927, £17063 4s 6d.

For 5 months ended Aug. 31, 1926, £14,414 13s lOd. Increase, £2648 10s Bd.

This table shows that the takings for electricity and meter rents were £2208 and that the total receipts under this head for the first five months of the financial year stand at £17,063. It will be noted that quite a number of consumers pay penalty rates; -since the beginning of the year over £IOO has been paid. Accounts. —The pay roll for the day is not so large as usual, owing to the fact that this month there are no payments either for electricity or interest. The .amount, of the accounts totals £lßl3 13s lOd, of .which sum £B9l 4s Id is presented for confirmation and £922 9s 9d the amount of the accounts to be passed for payment. In the accounts for confirmation the chief items are wages and salaries. It will be noticed that three fortnightly periods of wages payments come into this month’s payments, the total amount being £591 18s fid for the. three periods. In the accounts presented for payment there are those which include transformers, motors, waterheating cylinders, meters, insulators, ranges, benzine and tyres.

In reference to the insurance items it will be noticed that the State accident premiums for the year, that is, adjustment on last year’s wage expenditure and payment, on estimated expenditure for current year, totals £165 7s lid. There has been an increase in the rates since the Ist January, 1927, and on all outside workers (including meter readers) the rate we have to pay is 45s per cept. Previously ordinary workers were rated at 35s per cent., and the live wiremen 455. I understand that there are some Boards who are forming an accident insurance fund reserve.

£IO,OOO Loan.—The final arrangements with regard to this loan from the Public Trustee have been coin-

pleted, and a first instalment of £3OOO has come to hand. The charges in connection with the raising of the loan have been paid, and interest on the £3OOO starts as from the Ist instant. ANALYSIS OE CONNECTED LOAD. k.w.

Total connected k.w. .. 7196 The Chairman stated that the cost of raising the £IO,OOO loan was £2B 7s 6(1The report was adopted. COST OF WORKMEN’S INSURANCE The Chairman called attention to the altered position in regard to the cost of accident insurance. Whereas previously the 35s rate covered ordinary workers and live-wire men, all the workmen, including meter readers, had now been brought under a 45s rate. He thought it might be advisable to attempt an amalgamation with other Power Boards for the purpose of taking out insurance. This Board had been very fortunate as far as accidents were concerned, but some of the neighbouring Boards had had rather a bad time, and apparently the insurance companies had felt that the premium was not big enough. He would like the Board to protest in some manner against the grouping of employees in the way that had now been done for insurance purposes. The meter-read-ers, in this district at any rate, did not experience nearly the danger that men did who were working among live wires. The Chairman moved, that the matter of insurance of workers be referred to the executive of the Power Boards Association with a view to the amalgamation of the insurance business of the whole of the Power Boards.

The motion was seconded by Mr. Gunning, who said that a very large amount was involved; 21 per cent, on wages allowed for a great deal of risk. The amount could be cut down to a much finer point. The Secretary stated that the Power Boards Secretaries’ Conference had a recommendation on the lines indicated by tlie Chairman —that the Boards might unite and secure a uniform rate which would be much lower than the individual Boards could obtain. Ho thought that some of the insurance companies had been moved to their present action by the number of fatal accidents. There had been four deaths of - employees of one of the neighbouring Boards. The motion was carried.

940 Tl. No. h.p. 232 2672 Milking motors 365 532 Heating and iron points. . 2502 1792 Ranges .. 279 1755 507 324 Connected. Applns. Consumers 2692 2717