ELECTRIC POWER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 March 1941, Page 7

ELECTRIC POWER

ACTIVITIES OF WAIRARAPA BOARD FINANCIAL POSITION CONSIDERED SATISFACTORY. WORK IN GREYTOWN. (“Times-Age” Special.) At the monthly meeting of the Wairarapa Electric Power Board, held in Carterton today, .the secretary-man-ager, Mr Geo. Brown reported that during February sales of power to ordinary retail consumers showed an increase of £232 2s compared with February, 1940. The total revenue was, however, £l6B 2s 8d less than the estimate. The actual net revenue in February. 1940, was £5167 15s 4d, and for the first eleven months of the year the position was: Actual net revenue 1939-40, £57.887. The position in the installation department remained very much the same. They were slill understaffed and had difficulty in meeting the demands of the consumers. During February the connected load was increased by 279 k.w. and included: 179 light points, 100 heat points, 24 ranges, 29 water heaters. 31 motors. The number of consumers was now 6195, as compared with 6043 at the corresponding date last year. The position in connection with the board’s finances generally was satisfactory. On February 13, the Kopuaranga district was gazetted as part of the board’s inner area. They had in stock the material and ranges- required to complete all the jobs in Greytown which had so far been signed up. It appeared, however, that owing to the shortage of labour the board would not be able to complete these jobs until the end of May. The chief engineer, Mr H. B. Keenan, reporting on the general engineering activities for the past month, stated that in the Northern Area, 23 service connections were made. “The last section of the Kopuaranga district was completed and livened on February 28. A start had been made in Masterton with construction of low tension distribution systems in the Colombo Road, Worksop Road, Bannister- and Church street areas. Owing to the lack of skilled labour and the necessity for undertaking other urgent work, the position of general maintenance work had only improved slightly. The board had concentrated on any urgent maintenance- work, and overhauled any defective parts. In the Central Area five service connections had been erected. The reconstruction. of the low tension system in Greytown was proceeding. In the southern area three service connections had been erected. An inspection of all new construction work erected during the year was carried out by the Government inspecting engineer during this month. All work had been passed as first class. The reconstruction of the board’s system in Greytown was proceeding and should be’ completed within another six weeks.