THAMES VALLEY POWER BOARD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 889, 5 February 1930, Page 7

THAMES VALLEY POWER BOARD

The first meeting in 1930 of the Thames Valley Power Board was held yesterday, Mr. F. M. Strange presiding. The Public Works Department advised that during the recess the question of franchise would be investigated as applied to town districts, boroughs and counties, and the difficulties of the board in this respect would then be overcome. The Minister of Finance, in reply to the board’s letter, stated in regard to the financing of consumers that where the Advances to Settlers Office is called upon to consent to electrical installations on the time-payment system, at least 50 per cent, of the cost should be paid in cash by the landholder. It was decided to protest at this decision and to ask for reconsideration. The advertising contractors for the combined advertising scheme wrote stating that for every £2 subscribed by the Auckland authority there would be a subsidy of £ 2 payable by the Government and £ 1 from the electrical traders. The scheme was adopted by five votes four. Claims for losses 'of cows that lia.d been, electrocuted were received from P. G. Harper and H. Whitechurch, and referred to'the insurance company interested. The manager’s report stated that income for the past nine months to December 31 last was £98,395 6s 3d, and the expenditure £101,746 14s Id. The installation of meters over the whole of the board’s territory would be completed by the end of April next. From figures available the meter rates for electric ranges are considerably lower than the fiat-rate charges. The total number of consumers connected to the board’s mains is 7,210, which include Te Aroha 640, and Thames 1,074. The engineer reported that 4.400 meters had been installed to date. The Waikino and Kerepeehi points had been completed, and approximately 90 per cent, of the Waipou area. In 192 8, the average number of units purchased weekly increased from 445,000 during July and August, to 552,000 during November and December, or by approximately 23.3 per cent. For the corresponding periods of 1929 the units increased from 491,000 to 587.300 weekly, or by 19.6 per cent. There had been numerous complaints from consumers regarding the meters, most of them being that the cost under the meter rate would be considerably higher than under the previous fiat rate. When the complaints were investigated it was found they were due, in most cases, to the mis-reading of the meters by the consumers themselves. The engineer reported that as the result of the canvass at Waihi Beach, £227 had been guaranteed. It was resolved that the board’s appreciation of the services of Mr. Hattaway, the accountant, who had been appointed manager to the Upper Hutt Board, be placed on record. Mr. Hattaway suitably responded.