Waitemata Power Charges Reduced

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 597, 25 February 1929, Page 9

Waitemata Power Charges Reduced

INDUSTRY BENEFITS LIGHTING RATE UNALTERED The Waitemata Power Board at a meeting to-day decided to reduce charges on the use of current for milking motors, industrial motors, industrial power, and domestic power. The decision was made at a meeting of the board, and the proposal for the reductions was incorporated in a notice of motion sponsored by the chairman, Mr. J. W. Hayden. Discussion was brisk at times, but the final endorsement of the proposal was almost unanimous.

At the opening of the discussion a letter from the Waitemata Chamber of Commerce was read. In this it was stated that the Devonport “square mile” had to carry the outer areas so far as power was concerned. The board now had profits, and these should be utilised in a reduction of lighting charges. The chairman, in a statement, denied that this was an accurate survey of the position. Devonport, he said, provided no more than one-third of the revenue from current. Only 10 per cent, of the stoves used were in Devonport, and 16 per cent, of the water meters. As it was, the Devonport consumers had the chance of coming in on the domestic supply. Mr. S. E. Hennings said that 75 per cent, of the consumers in the board’s area would benefit by a reduction in the lighting charge. That was the basis of the contentions made by the Chamber of Commerce.

It was decided that a copy of the chairman’s statement should be sent to the chamber. The notice of motion was thou brought forward for discussion, and the proposals in it provided for the following reductions: Milking Motors. —The fixed charge for the three months, June, July, August, to be deleted. Farmers will then pay for any current consumed at the rate of 2*d a unit.

Industrial Motors. —No minimum charge to be levied on motors up to and including 3-li.p., excepting milking motors, providing the consumer is otherwise paying a minimum charge of not less than 5s Sd a month. Industrial Power. —The first 100 units to be reduced from 3id to 3d a unit (gross). Domestic Power.—The first 30 units to be reduced from 3id to 3d a unit (gross). AIDING INDUSTRY Speaking in support of the motion, the chairman said that reduction in the industrial rate would aid industry more than a reduction in the lighting charges. There were several hundred motors in the board’s area, used for industrial purposes, and the owners of these should be helped in their industrial work. Mr. Kennings said the board's duty was to benefit the greatest number of consumers, and a reduction of the lighting rate by a halfpenny would mean £2,00. He agreed that the rate for milking machines, however, should be reduced.

An amendment moved by Mr. Kennings, providing for reduction of the minimum charge on lighting from 5s to 4s, and a reduction of the lighting charge to 6id, less 12i per cent., was lost. During the discussion of the amendment, Mr. T. Lamont suggested that saving might be made through more efficient running of the board.

He was ruled out of order by the chairman after he had made reference to the salaries of the board’s officers. Finally, the motion as proposed by the chairman was carried.