ELECTRIC POWER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 November 1939, Page 7

ELECTRIC POWER

MEETING OF WAIRARAPA BOARD. RISING COSTS IN ALL DIRECTIONS. (“Times-Age” Special.) Reporting to the Wairarapa Power Board at its meeting in Carterton today, the secretary-manager, Mr G. Brown, stated that for the first seven months of - the year the net revenue was £37,688, a gain in comparison with the corresponding period of last year of £3,955. In the trading department the showroom sales and repairs were holding up very well. In the installation department, owing to the difficulty in getting further supplies of materials. the reduction in turnover was likely to continue. During October, 15 new consumers were connected to the system, making the total 5,981. The capital expenditure for the first seven months of the year amounted to £9,779, as compared with £12,592 for the corresponding period of last year. Four short extensions and seven reconstruction jobs had been authorised. There was every indication that difficulty was going to be experienced in procuring further materials for installation work. So far the board had been wo'rking mainly on existing stocks and when these were used up, it was impossible at present to state just what the position would be. It appeared as if there would be a substantial rise in prices generally for such materials as were available. The stock of ranges was depleted. The importation of practically all other domestic electrical appliances was prohibited by the import restrictions and the board would be dependant entirely on local manufacturers fqr their supplies. These restrictions and the consequent difficulty in getting supplies were going to affect development and progress and must result in unemployment. “We have to be prepared to meet rising costs in all directions without any compensating increase in revenue." stated Mr Brown. “The increase in the postage and telephone charges will amount to over £l5O per annum. The rise in price of benzine will cost the board from £l7O to £l9O per annum. Stationery and all other general supplies have appreciably increased in cost. As mentioned previously, when our present stocks of line and housewiring materials are used up, increased prices will have to be paid for fresh supplies. Fresh demands have just been received for a new award for the electrical workers. In the meantime we shall have to be very careful with our commitments and consolidate all we can.” The engineer Mr H. B. Keenan, reported that eleven new service connections had been erected in the Central Area. The extension on the main Masterton-Carterton Road had been livened and survey and plans nrepar cd for further extension to serve three properties. An interruption to supply occurred in the Taumata area on October 1. when 11.000 volts fuse suppor broke down and set the pole on lire In the southern area ten service con-1 nections had been erected during the] month. '