ELECTRIC POWER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 February 1943, Page 4

ELECTRIC POWER

WAIRARAPA BOARD MONTHLY MEETING AT CARTERTON. REHABILITATION SCHEME. (“Times-Age” Special.) Mr Campbell Pearce presided at yesterday’s meeting of the Wairarapa Electric Power Board, held at' Carterton. There were also present Messrs J. H. Colquhoun, L. T. Daniell, H. P. Hugo, W. Howard Booth, C. R. Holmes, N. C. C. Shepherd, W. A. Tate, G. W, Hart and the secretary-manager, Mr Geo. Brown. The secretary-manager, Mr Brown, submitted a report setting out information in respect to members of the staff who are serving with the armed forces overseas and in New Zealand. The report showed a comparison of the pay received while in the employ of the board and the pay and allowances in the Army and other war units. At a recent board meeting grants were made to employees in the services in order to bring their pay up to what was received while they were in the board’s employ. Since then the Government had readjusted Army pay which increased the pay of the board’s men beyond the wages received before they joined the forces. The chairman said it was never intended when the board made the allowances to the men that the wages should exceed the amount previously paid by the board. With the increased pay now given by the Government to members of the forces, he did not think the board was justified in continuing the grants. After brief discussion Mr Pearce gave notice to move “that the minute on the board’s books in regard to allowances be rescinded, and the allowances be discontinued.” He would frame recommendations for the consideration of members at the next meeting. The number of employees concerned are 26—12 married men (with 13 children) and 14 single. , The secretary-manager’s report was read and adopted. The report of the board’s engineer (Mr Keenan) was read and adopted. This included a report on the earthquake damage to the surge tower at the Kourarau works. Authority was given to the engineer to go on with the work of repairing the surge tower on a contract basis and upon the recommendations submitted. A letter was received from the Government Rehabilitation Board asking for suggestions and information for works of a definite benefit to the country to be carried out when the soldiers returned after the war. Mr Brown said that there would be no trouble to find work for any of the board’s staff now on active service when they returned, provided materials were procurable. Mr Daniell said that there was one thing that should be carried into effect. That was the reticulation of the Tiriui and Stronvar districts; in fact the whole back country areas should receive consideration. Mr Booth: “Not at a loss, of course. Our job is distribution.” Mr Daniell: “My attitude since I became a board member has been to create a community plan. When the soldiers come home let us have some good work to show and not grub grass on side streets and get no value out of it.” Mr Brown: The Tinui proposition is a good one. , Mr Tate said that be was in sympa> thy with Mr Daniell’s proposal. Mr Holmes: “Tree planting on our barren hills should be encouraged.” He said that he hoped this would be included in any rehabilitation scheme. Reafforestation was essential. Mr Colquhoun: “I take it we are asked for our views. We should make suggestions, otherwise the board will get nowhere.” Mr Daniell moved and Mr Colquhoun seconded “that the board go on with work in the Tinui and Stronvar districts; that consideration for reticulation of the back country areas be also recommended, and that treeplanting on hilly country be work for rehabilitation.” The motion was carried. It was decided that the Ponatahi School Committee be advised that subject to the Education Board’s approval the installation of heating appliances would be gone on with.