ELECTRICAL SUPPLY

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20820, 2 June 1939, Page 5

ELECTRICAL SUPPLY

CAMBRIDGE BOARD GOOD YEAR EXPERIENCED CHAIRMAN RE-ELECTED (Special to Times) CAMBRIDGE, Thursday. The annual meeting of the Cambridge PHectric-Power Board was held last night, those present being: Messrs M. Wells (chairman), J. W. Garland, R- Fisher, W. Moore, D. M. Bourke, B. N. Garland, J. T. Entwistle, J. 11. Brock, F. M. Oliver (secretary-mana-ger . and H. C. Oaten (engineer). Mr Wells was re-elected chairman. In his review of the year’s operations, the chairman said the only line increase was one and a-half miles of t 1 k.v. to serve the Karapiro area. The total increased load was 542 k.w. The district was now nearly 100 per cent reticulated. The number of consumers added was 68, compared with 76 the previous year. Connections stood at 1 756, compared with 1689. The peak load was 1134 k.v.a. (1061), an increase of 6.8 per cent (4.85 per cent). Units purchased totalled 6,910,000 (6,565,150), an increase of 5 per cent.

Satisfactory arrangements were made with the Thames Valley ElectricPower Board for the supply and reticulation of Te Miro. This was completed. With the exception of bulk power the expenditure was kept reasonably close to the estimated amount. The estimated expenditure was £22,080 and the actual outlay £22,982, tho greater part being involved in power purchased. The board was able to obtain from tlie State Advances Corporation £6OOO at 3} per cent, for ten years on a 20-years repayment table. The floating of this loan had relieved the working account of further calls for the time being. The. year closed with a profit of £474, which was regarded as most satisfactory.

“The question of power poles was further looked into, and it seems that we must look to concrete,” said the chairman. An experimental lot of 50 poles was under construction and would be used on high-voltage lines.

MONTHLY MEETING KARAPIRO FACTORY CLOSED At the monthly meeting which followed. a letter was received from the Now Zealand Dairy Company that the Karapiro dairy factory would be closed at the end of .tune. The chairman explained that the poor market for casein had caused the company's decision. The closing was no reflection on the Power Board. The Employers’ Association requested comment on the proposed Rill to provide two weeks’ holiday with pa> for all workers.— "We should make a definite protest against thp proposal,” said Mr Garland. He said that employees had two days off each week, together with statutory holidays, and he contended that if a check were not made the men would soon he working less than half the year.—The board agreed to reply that, if it were necessary to increase the holidays the amendmeni should be made by arbitration, not by law. The Cambridge Borough Council advised that it was proposed to erect four lights in Hamilton Road. —The works committee was instructed to investigate the position.