CLAMOURING FOR POWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 569, 23 January 1929, Page 1

CLAMOURING FOR POWER

ELECTRICITY FOR FRANKLIN BOARD WANTS £75,000 (From Our Own Correspondent) PUKEKOHE, Tuesday-. The decision was reached at a special meeting of the Franklin Elec trie-power Board to-day to apply to the Local Government Loans Board for its sanction to the raising of a loan of £75,000 for extensions. Mr. J. Dean presided. The more thickly-populated portions of the board’s district, it was pointed out, had been reticulated, but the outer areas were clamouring for power. In his report the engineer, Mr. S. R. Overton, detailed the now works which would be necessary' - to the board’s system during the next five years. These included the further reticulation of the Hunua, Happy Valley, Mangatangi, Miranda, Waiau. Karaka, Mauku, Olenbrook, Puni. Pollok, Awhitu. Maioro, Paparata and soldiers’ settlement (Puni) districts, in addition to loop connections, and the balance of Pukekohe and Waiuku electrification. No lines, however, would be undertaken unless a payable load was obtained. The engineer recommended that static condensers costing approximately £2,500 be installed as tlie first suction. In the economies effected from their use, the capital expenditure would be returned irj three from the date of their installation. During the discussion regarding the raising of the loan it was stated Thai the board had £20,000 in its reserve funds, and that no other electricpower board in the Dominion operating for a similar time was in such a sound position. It was reported by the engineer that negotiations were still proceeding regarding the board assuming control ot the Bombay-Pukekohe line from the Public Works Department. Jt was decided to adopt a policy of financing extensions out .->f loan money, the profits on the revenue accounts to be utilised for the reduction of charges after the board’s security- had been provided for.