ELECTRIC LIGHT DEPARTMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 101, 6 August 1910, Page 7

ELECTRIC LIGHT DEPARTMENT

AN IMPORTANT REPORT. The sub-committee set up to enquire into the conduct of the municipal electric light department, the question of staffing and the proposal to add to the distril) ■ ting station, lias, after a very-] full investigation, presented its report to the Electric Light Committee, which has directed that a copy of the report be supplied to each councillor, with a view of discussing its recommendations at Monday night's meeting of the Council: The Committee recommend: 1. That the department absolutely discontinue the branches of trading and indenting. Note. —A large amount of capital on which interest has to be paid is always lying idle in stock, and several dispute® have arisen througih the indenting. Extra bookkeeping is necessary, and the small profit made in these branches does not warrant the Council's continuing now that the department is firmly established. 2. That the whole of the clerical work be done in the Town Hall under the supervision of the town clerk., Note—The town clerk, as treasurer, is responsible for the moneys of the department, and the preseiit branch office leads to delay and.' duplication of work. At present the, vrhiole time of one member of the town clerk's staff is employed in electric work. The convenience of the public will also be studied by having a central office. 3\ That the electrical engineer attend at tfee Town Hall for one hour at least daily, for the convenience of such of the public as may wish to consult him, and that the hour be advertised. That a separate r9om in the Town Hall buildings be set aside for the u«e of the electric light department. 4. That the electrical engineer be asked to take liis 'holiday at as early a date as possible, in view of the new worlc probable in the near future. 5. That o per cent, on the capital invested be set apart annually as depreciation and credited to .a sinking fund weeount.

6. That the present y 2 per cent, sinking fund on portion of the loan be applied to the balance of the loans raised for electric lighting purposes by payment of the amount to the account mentioned in paragraph 5. 7. That the borough treasurer inaugurate such improvements in the present system of book-keeping in the department as he may consider desirable to bring about a more complete and effective system. Note.—The present system entails unnecessary duplication, and does not readily supply the information desired by the Council. 8. That no additions be made to the suib-stati-on. 9. That as the question of alterations or additions to the staff largely depends on the adoption or otherwise of the above recommendations, the committee makes no present suggestion. Memo.— The adoption of these recommendations will simplify the working of the department, in that the clerical work will be wholly under the control of one officer who is always available to the Council, while the engineer will be set free and able to give his' whole time to the mechanical and technical sides of the undertaking. ' •