POWER BOARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 October 1940, Page 6

POWER BOARD

MEETING AT CARTERTON KOPUARANGA RETICULATION. COMPLAINTS OF FALL IN VOLTAGE. (“Times-Age” Special.) The monthly meeting of the Wairarapa Electric Power Board was held at Carterton today. The chairman, Mr H. Campbell Pearce presided. There were also present Messrs J. W. Colquhoun, F. C. Daniell, H. P. Hugo, E. C. Holmes, W. Howard Booth, W. A. Tate, S. Dalgliesh and M. B. Tait. “I consider we should take action in the matter of having certain officers exempted from the Emergency Precaution Scheme and Home Guard duties,” stated the secretary-manager, Mr Geo. Brown. “All our men will be wanted for their own particular jobs. The two organisations have a good deal of power and unless we make arrangements accordingly they could take away essential men. In the event of an earthquake our men could not be spared. The same position existed concerning the Home Guard organisation. “We are not seeking exemption for our men but wish to retain them for special work,” observed Mr F. C. Daniell in moving that the matter be left in the hands of the secretary-manager with power to act. The motion was seconded by Mr Tait

and carried unanimously. “Two-thirds of the survey work in connection with the Kopuaranga reticulation extension has been completed and we will be making a start with the first section in the next week or so,” reported Mr Brown. He pointed out that the survey was being held up by road alteration works being carried out by the Mauriceville County Council but rather than wait for the work to be completed and to avoid unnecessary delay the first section would be commenced. The work would be completed to the township. Owing to the trend of prices the installations guaranteed were to be regarded as satisfactory. “The cost of installing light points, as a case in point, is 38s to 40s today, compared with 21s in 1933 and 1934,” added Mr Brown.

Mr H. P. Hugo stated that he had received several complaints from people in Masterton concerning a fall in the voltage available for their water heaters, with the result that the water was not being heated.

In reply Mr Brown pointed out that the lines had been heavily overloaded as trouble was being experienced on the Government lines. The Hutt, Wairarapa and Tararua districts were being supplied by the same transmission line, with the result that power failures were frequently experienced, due to the line being overloaded. Voltage had often been down by five per cent. “The Masterton people are on a good wicket owing to the present system,” observed Mr Brown. It was anticipated that the position would be rectified later.

The Electricity Controller wrote authorising the payment of the five percent increase in salary to certain members of the staff not covered by awards. The letter was received.

Mr Brown reported that he had received advice from the Chief Electrical Engineer and the Electricity Controller directing the board to forward three-quarters of a mile of galvanised steel wire and 500 yards of cable to certain public works of a defence nature. Mr Booth: “It's a downright cheek. Why should they draw on our stocks?” Mr Brown: "We had no option in one case to grant the request. It was urgently required. It might happen with all of our stores if it is wanted for war purposes.” Mr Tait: “It is only right anyway.

Mr Brown stated that the request for the cable had been complied with, but the wire had not been sent as it was required for the Kopuaranga extension. He had offered the controllers copper wire instead of the steel wire but it had not been required. Mr Brown emphasised that had the steel wire been given away the cost of using copper wire for the Kopuaranga extension would have made the job considerably more costly. Mr Hugo: “They have a complete list of our stocks, too.” The secretary-manager’s action was endorsed.

A request was received from the Masterton Emergency Precautions Committee asking the board to supply power free of cost to a building used for the training of volunteer firemen in Queen Street. The building would be used once a week for six weeks and thereafter once a month. Mr Campbell Pearce j (chairman): “As we are sailing pretty close to the wind I don’t think we should grant the request.” Mr Hugo: “It is a war time measure and we must offer all the assistance we can give. The men were being trained voluntarily.” Mr W. A. Tate: “Why shouldn’t they pay?” Mr J. W. Colquhoun: “We will receive applications from the others if we grant this one.” Mr F. C. Daniell: “There are no other requests before the board.” Mr Pearce: “We are going to have a worse time this year than for some time past.” Mr Hugo: “An hour and a half a week won’t cost us much.” Mr Colquhoun: “But if we give to one we must give to the others.” Mr M. B. Tait: “We should consider each case on its merit.” • Mr Brown: “It seems a rather trivial request to make. The cost of lighting the building would be 71d a week or 2s a month.” Mr Tate: “Local bodies should shoulder their own responsibilities. It is a ridiculous amount.” Mr Hugo: “Some one has to pay.” Mr Pearce: “It is the principle involved.” Mr Tait: “It is so small we should grant the request.” On the motion of Mr Hugo, seconded by Mr Daniell, the request was granted for six weeks when the position would be reviewed.