Power Board Will Not Impose Rates

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 592, 19 February 1929, Page 1

Power Board Will Not Impose Rates

CHAIRMAN CERTAIN PURPOSES OF LOAN “For some reason you still find people who are afraid that we are going to put some more rates on their shoulders*. The Auckland Power Board has never collected a penny in rates, and there seems little possibility that it ever will.” This comment was made by Mr. W. j. Holdsworth, chairman of the board, yesterday in discussing to-morrow’s loan proposals of £67 5,000. £LL for extensions The general manager, Mr. It. 11. Bartley, expressed surprise at the lack v f knowledge of the purposes lor which • was proposed to spend the loan for wbich authority will be sought tuirorrow. Tlio loan he again pointed ~ut covered the following: An extension of the 22,000-volt cable .innections, £loS,000; sub-stations to gt £110,000; 0.600-volt extensions, . r» 000; reinforcement of services. 7 250, 000; voltage regulators and pilots, 000; feeders and distributors, tl’t.QOO; extensions of 11,000-volt system, £34,800; meters and time switches, £55,000; or, in round ligures, a.lowing for contingencies: £675,000. ARAPUNI POWER Wo havo been advised that the first 15,000 k.w. unit will start operating at Vrapuni about the end of May,” renarked the chairman. “A large amount of the proposed loan is required for dealing with the badly wanted power from this source.” loads increasing •It is difficult to give details down xo the last pound, say, in an item like £250,000 for reinforcements and reticulation.’' The domestic load had incrcnirnt to such an extent that in-ti-eased reticulation was necessary in districts where it was thought the district was already complete for some j«an. v great •!< ;.! ►£ new reticulation was now becoming necessary. The new 22.000-volt underground cable was very necessary and important to the system. “Provision has to be made in case ;lae city ratepayers carry the loan for attended tramways,’ remarked Mr. Tloldswortli. “If the ratepayers turn rio>gi the new tramways, then we will not sven raise the portion of the loan referring to it.” Tho board decided to advertise in secretary-manager’s report.