CAMBRIDGE POWER

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20921, 28 September 1939, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE POWER

RAISING BALANCE OF LOAN EMERGENCY REGULATIONS (Special to Times) CAMBRIDGE, Thursday i The monthly meeting of the Cambridge Power Board was held last night, when there were present Messrs M. Wells (chairman), W. Moore. J. H. Brook, J. W. Garland, R. Fisher. D. Bourke, N. Garland, J. T. Entwisle. The secretary-manager (Mr F. M. Oliver), and the engineer (Mr H. C. Oaten), were also in attendance. The Power Boards’ Association wrote advising the postponement of all conferences. It was felt in the present state of war emergency that administrative officers, especially electrical engineers, should not have to leave their posts to attend conferences. Raising of Loan The Treasury wrote reminding the board of the necessity to obtain a j new Order-in-Council under which ! the period for raising the unexpended ; portion of the board’s £IO,OOO loan, j amounting to £4OOO, could be ex- j tended. The board originally raised j the loan for extension and general j works. The chairman said the original contract was for the raising of the loan at 3i per cent, and he thought they should immediately apply for an extension of the period, especially if they could still get the balance of £4OOO at the original contract rate of interest. It was decided to apply for the extension and to endeavour to obtain the £4OOO as soon as possible. Plant at Hora Hora The Public Works Department advised that arrangements were being made to instal plant at Hora Hora to rectify variations in voltage. The engineer said that the installation of this plant would mean that the voltage pressure would be kept at the one point, and there would not be the irritating variation that had been experienced by consumers in various portions of the borough. For the past ten years the Hora Hora line serving Cambridge had had to take on a large amount of Thames Valley consumption, and a big quarry plant between Hora Hora and Cambridge. These additions had i greatly affected pressure in Cambridge. and it had been difficult to control in the board’s stations. The chairman: Then this is very good news, and it will be appreciated by the consumers concerned. Emergency Regulations The board was advised that as from September 5, under the war emergency regulations, an electricity controller had been appointed, and in future all works must be sanctioned by the controller. The j board was required to forward to the controller a schedule setting out all stocks held. The engineer said that these regulations were chiefly to ensure that the Government’s requirements for camps and other defence purposes would be available immediately. He detailed stocks of materials and supplies on hand. The chairman said there was nothing to be alarmed at locally. They had supplies enough to enable the board’s work to be carried on comfortably for three months. Kairangi Consumers Following a petition from a further group of settlers at the Kairangi Settlement, the Lands and Survey Department wrote asking the board if it were prepared to go ahead with the reticulation of the sections concerned. Eight of nine settlers in the group were prepared to guarantee a certain amount per annum. It was decided to advise the Department that the board was quite prepared to reticulate the group as soon as possible, provided a permit could be obtained from the Controller of Electricity and provided the Small Farms Board would guarantee the amount of revenue required per annum. Work For the Month The engineer reported that connections numbered 1812, a net gain of eight for the period. The inspectors had made 14 inspections of new work and installed 25 meters and six time switches. Services were run to ten consumers. The reticulation of the Wairangi Settlement area had been completed, concrete poles having been used throughout. Referring to the war regulations, Mr Oaten said the rule affecting the board chiefly was that which required that any extensions exceeding ten chains in length must be applied for and sanctioned by the controller. “ This will mean some delay,” he reported, “and it is to be expected that some applications will be refused, as it is necessary to conserve stocks of line materials in the Dominion.”