POSITION SOUND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 May 1943, Page 2

POSITION SOUND

WAIRARAPA POWER BOARD CHAIRPdAN’S REVIEW. PREPARATIONS FOR POST-WAR PERIOD. (“Times-Age” Special.) “The financial position of the board is sound and we can accordingly face the future with confidence,” observed the chairman of the Wairarapa Electric Power Board, Mr A. C. Pearce, at the annual meeting of the ' board today. During the year a further £3.000 was invested in Government war loans. From each £1 of net revenue received last year, said Mr Pearce, the board had to pay cut 7s 7d for power purchased from the Public Works Department; 2s lid for distribution and general maintenance costs; 5s 3d for interest and loan repayments; Is 3d for depreciation and replacements; Is Id for salaries; 6d for administrative expenses; 2d for superannuation, and lOd for construction and capital works, plus 5d profit. Both the board and the consumers had to put up with many restrictions and heavy demands had been made on the reduced staff for defence work, and to restore damage done by the earthquakes, said Mr Pearce. The usual high standard of service had been well maintained, and although in some cases consumers might have been inconvenienced, very little, if any, hardship has been experienced by them. The full effect of restrictions was not felt immediately they are introduced. They were now, however, reaching a stage when the effect would be much more noticeable. Owing to shortage of labour, line materials and power, new extensions must be reduced to a minimum.

Mr Pearce drew attention to the reasonable and satisfactory manner in which the Electricity Controller (Mr Kissel) had carried out his duties. Twenty-five of the board’s staff were now serving with the armed forces, and as a result, the male staff had been reduced by one-third since war was declared. He expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Secretary-Manager, the Engineer, and all the staff for the willing and effective manner in which they had responded to the demands made.

“Heavy demands will, no doubt,” said Mr Pearce, “be made on the board in the post-war period. We shall be called upon to meet the cost of new extensions and service connections, and the cost of reconstructing and generally increasing the capacity of the whole system to enable us to supply the deferred load which is accumulating during the war period, and which will have to be provided for when supplies of power, labour and materials become more or less normal again. Electricity supply will no doubt be required in connection with rehabilitation schemes carried out by other bodies. Every effort should be made to accumulate funds for this post-war work, and in such a way that the allocation will be made only when the actual requirements are known, and these requirements can then be dealt with in order of urgency. I think it will be an advantage if, and I hope it will be possible to arrange that this work is spread somewhat, otherwise there will be a period of great activity, followed most likely by a period of calm which would necessitate a reduction of staff. “1 wish to thank the board members for the co-operation and assistance which I have received from them during the past year. We are likely to have to deal with and decide many important questions during the next two or three years. We can, however, state to the consumers and ratepayers that the financial position of the board is sound, and we can, accordingly, face the future with confidence,'’ concluded Mr Pearce.