Boards Deprived of Power Discount

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 632, 8 April 1929, Page 10

Boards Deprived of Power Discount

WAITEMATA’S ACTION APPEAL TO MINISTER “I don’t think we ought to take this as in any way final. It is wrong to charge one section of the community more than another.” fpHIS was the reply of the chairman of the Waitemata Electric-Power Board, Mr. W. J. Hayden, at the meeting of the board this morning, when a letter was received from the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, regretting that he could not see his way clear to amend the board’s contract with the Horahora powersupply authorities to allow of discount being deducted. Further, the Minister could not authorise the rebate suggested by the board. The Minister stated in his letter that he had had the matter investigated, and found that the five per cent, mentioned by the board is granted only to the five supply authorities which were first supplied from Horahora. “It is entirely -wrong,” said the chairman, “that any board should get a five per cent, advantage over tnis board.” Mr. G. Trevithick: How many boards do not get the five per cent, discount? MINISTER’S POSITION UNTENABLE” The Chairman: Only Franklin and ourselves. 1 could see the chairman of the Franklin Board and see what they are intending to do. The position of the Minister is untenable to charge us five per cent, because we were formed later than other boards. Mr. Trevithick could not see why the board should be fined because it came in a little later. Tho load was there, he said. According to Mr. Hayden the most astounding factor was that when the board had waited on the Minister in Auckland he confessed that he did not know anything about the five per cent, charged the board. “We should still ask for the rebate, because we are not satisfied with the position,” said Mr. Hayden. Mr. S. E. Kennings moved that the chairman make further efforts to get the reduction of five per cent., and that a letter be sent to the members of Parliament for the district, bringing the position to their notice. This was adopted, and it was further agreed that the board co-operate with the Franklin Power Board on the question.