CITY MADE NO MISTAKE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 305, 16 March 1928, Page 13

CITY MADE NO MISTAKE

HANDING OVER OF POWER CONTROL MR. HOLDSWORTH EMPHATIC That the City Council made no mistake in relinquishing control of Auckland’s electricity supplies was the opinion of Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, chairman of the ElectricPower Board, expressed yesterday at the luncheon of the Chamber of Commerce during an address on “The Future Development of Hydro- Electricity.” Mr. Holdsworth stated that it had been said at a recent meeting of the j City Council that the council had made a mistake in parting with its elec- j tricity department, and had regretted ; its action. “I say without the slightest hesita- j tion that no mistake was made,” de- j dared the speaker, amid applause. *‘l say most emphatically that no council i has rendered such signal service as the council of 1921, when it decided, in the interests of a wider area than that under its control, to form a power board.” (Applause.) Under the council, the electricity department had operated for 14 years, and had some 9,000 consumers’ accounts. The board in five years added 32,000, making a total to-day of 43,000 accounts. The council averaged a year G 42 new accounts, the board, 6.400. Revenue from domestic supply in 1922 was £1,599, in 1927 £125,631. Under the council no record of any electric ranges or liot-water services; to-day over 3,000 electric ranges and 4,95 S water heaters were in use. The revenue of the board when formed in 1922 was £139,565, this year will be over £600,000. “These figures show the remarkable expansion during the live years the board has been in operation, and at the same time prove that no mistake was made,” continued Mr. Holdsworth. j “Had the council in 1921 taken a narrow and parochial view, and decided to retain the electricity department, I firmly believe that the anomalies, difficulties and problems confronting both transport and water would have been perpetuated in the electricity department.” (Laughter.) “I also believe what has proved the | solution regarding electricity would be j equally beneficial to the other ques- j tion causing so much concern in the ! city to-day,” added Mr. Holdsworth. ' (Hear, hear.) ARAPUNI MADE POSSIBLE. “Another important aspect of the question must not be overlooked. The developing of Arapuni was only made possible by Auckland city joining the larger board,” continued the speaker. “The Government made it quite clear that Arapuni would not be possible unless a powerful board was formed. This board had to guarantee a minimum payment to the Government annually of £105,000, representing 15,000 kilowatts. While this appeared a big thing in 1921 and caused some concern, there was no need for anxiety, as last winter in the King’s Wharf station 26,000 kilowatts was reached. By the time Arapuni is completed it would therefore appear that the Auckland board will require 30,000 kilowatts or just double the guarante demanded in 1921. Not only in this Dominion, but in other countries the demand for electricity exceeds expectation.” SCALE OF CHARGES Continuing, Mr. Holdsworth went on to explain the scale of charges recently instituted by the board, as there seemed to be some misconception regarding same. With the idea of encouraging the use of electricity and making the charges as uniform as possible, the board eliminated meter rents for domestic purposes and made a charge of 5d a unit for the first 25 units, 3d for the next 25 units and lid for all over. A flat rate of £1 per an- ! niim for every 100-watt element was j then instituted in connection with hot-water systems. The latest reducductions meant the elimination of the 10 per cent, charge operating over the outer area; the commercial rate reduced from 6*d a unit to sd, which means in round figures to the board £20,000 per annum.