POWER RETICULATION

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 976, 20 May 1930, Page 14

POWER RETICULATION

BALANCE OF AREA TO COST £62,000 AUCKLAND BOARD’S WORK A list of the districts within the board’s area which have not yet been reticulated was submitted at" yesterday’s meeting of the Auckland Elec-tric-Power Board, by the general manager, Mr. R. H. Bartley. “The board can fairly claim that the major part of its area has now been reticulated, but in making this claim it does not mean that every street or road within the reticulated area is provided -with the necessary poles and cables to supply the electric-power, and this position must remain so for many years to come,” said Mr. Bartley. “The board is, nevertheless, continually adding to its existing reticulation by way of extensions both small and large, and this procedure is the most economical that can be adopted, providing that sufficient foresight is exercised with regard to the future in erecting these lines. It woould, therefore, appear that the clearest way of setting the position out for the board would be under two separate headings—new main lines, and extensions to existing lines.” MAIN LINES

Under the first heading would come the following: Beachlands and Maraetai, main lines, 15 miles: This district was difficult to handle, as the load was entirely a summer one and the revenue offering was insufficient to meet the charges on capital. Kawakawa, main lines approximately 5 miles: There was little prospect of this district meeting the cost of reticulation for many years to come, but the settlers were now making inquiries as to the board’s policy concerning the supply in the district. Cockle Bay-Shelly Park, Ho wick Basin, main lines, approximately 4 miles: This district was now under consideration, but the question of revenue being sufficient to meet* the cost of reticulation was extremely doubtful, as a very big proportion of the load was of a summer nature, supplying seaside cottages. Pakuranga, main lines approximately 7 miles: The board had already authorised two miles of this work to be done. This represented the most populated part of the district, the balance being very lean and very little load offering. Wiri: New lines in this district amounted to approximately 5§ miles, and required to be treated as entirely new work. Old Whitford Road: Main lines approximately 3 miles. “This makes a total of 39 i miles of main lines to complete the balance of unreticulated area, and, as estimated, the cost, complete with transformers and all high and low tension lines, is approximately £ 29,600,” Mr. Bartley stated. EXTENSIONS TO LINES Under the heading of extensions to existing lines would come the following:—Waikowhai, 1 mile; ClevedonNess Valley. 1£ miles; Old Settlers’ Road, Clevedon, 1 mile; North Road, 2£ miles; Ardmore district, 6 miles; outer Mount Roskill districts, 3 miles; additional roads at Whitford, 7 miles; extensions in Orakei, 7 miles; Point England and Tamaki, 5 miles; subdivisions in the suburban areas, 10 miles. This would make a total of 44 miles of line. “These extensions are estimated to cost £ 33,000, and include transformers and all high and low tension reticulation. Thus the total under the two headings amounts to £62,600,” said Mr. Bartley. “The policy adopted by this board for obtaining guarantees of revenue is a wise and sound one and should still be adhered to and should be applicable to all extensions feeding sparsely populated areas. “This policy has the effect of protecting the board against unreasonable requests for expenditure on lines which have no possible chance of becoming revenue supporting. It affords the board the opportunity of individually considering each application on its merits and, if adopted, has the effect of inducing the consumers, in many cases, to avail themselves more fully of the benefits of the electricity supply by installing added apparatus, and, for these reasons alone, it is essential that the policy be adhered to.” ABSORBING UNEMPLOYED It was urged by Mr. E. H. Potter that the board should go ahead immediately and complete the reticulation of the whole power board district, thus giving work to the unemployed and helping the small farmers along. It was stated by Mr. J. Dempsey that this would entail the payment of about £6,000 a year in interest and sinking fund, and it would be a long time before any of the lines became paying propositions. The board might as well pay the £6,000 annually to the unemployed fund as do that. This view was supported by several members. “This reticulation must be treated from a commercial standpoint,” said the chairman, Mr. W. J. Holdsworth.. “Before we set out to complete the work in a short period we would have to be sure that the people in all districts would link up. The present policy is the best pne.” The report was received.