Beneficent Electricity

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 54, 25 July 1930, Page 39

Beneficent Electricity

Electrical and Radio Questions , Discussed ee eaecaeehed

A LARGE number of delegates attended the annual conference, in Wellington last week of the Hlectric Supply Authority Engineers’ Association. Mr. H. F. Toogood, president, occupied. the chair. : ‘ The report of the association stated that a special sub-committee had been set up to deal with the radio regylations, the importance of which was obvious. The quéstion of earth leakage had been’ prominent during the year, and after intensive investigation by the Public Works Department, a proposed regulation had been drafted and would be finalised immediately after the conference. A sub-committee appointed to bring down a complete set of lift régulations would commence its work inthe near future, ; The report stated that the use of instantaneous water-heaters had had been considered further, but so far no action had been taken by the. Public Works Department to protect supply authorities. It was believed that very valuable ‘results would accrue to the country when the Department of Scientific Research Committee. had completed its investigations into the de

application of electricity to agticitlure. During the year the following authorities had withdrawn from membership :-Havelock North | Town Board, Thames Borough Council, and Hawéra Gounty Electric. Go. The Golden Bay and South Taranalt Power

Boards had joined the association. The present membership stood at 76. The year ended with a balance of £3826 2/10. Thus sum was nearly equal to the next year’s anticipated expenditure. In view of the improved financial position, the application for a _grant from the Power Boards’ Asso‘ciation was reduced from £150 to £50. The Farmer’s Wife. R. H, F. TOOGOOD, president of . the Blectrical Supply Authority Engineers’ Association, paid a just tribute to the farmer’s wife. He said, in his address, that the farmer’s wife faces her obligations as 9 mother, wife and home-builder better than any wdéman in the community, and with the greater disadvantage of obtaining domestic hélp only with much difficulty. Electric sevice, Mr. Toogood maijntained, means much more to the farmer’s wife than to the more fortunate woman in the closely-settled areas. He hoped that the association would most heartily support any movement with thé object of removing the disadvantage undet which the rural authorities labour ' regarding bulk electric supplies pur-

chased from the Public Works Departmeént. . Expansion Necessary. ME. TOOGOOD urged that in view of the growing business of many of the authorities, extra capital expenditure on investment of profits in extensions was necessary. The time was therefore opportune to review thoroughly the regulations before this phase of development was too far advanced. The Public Works Department had apparently realised this also, arid was preparing for a revision. N New Zealand the small ‘rural authorities pay the highest pricés for bulk electric supplies, and no effort is made by giving cheaper current or monetary aid to assist them ‘to serve the sparsely-populated districts, eomplained Mr. Toogood. The Ontario Government, in contrast, subsidises rural reticulation schemes to the ex+ tent of 50 per cent. ofthe capital cost of lines in the same manner as the New Zealand Government subsidises the cost of road construction in the backblocks, The Ontario Provincial Government is prepared:to assist rural consumers by making grants to the Hydro-Hlectrical Commission for loss in revenue due to lower rates for current to such consumers. . "Until the initial impost of £2 per k.v.a. imposed. in New Zealand has been removed it eannot be said it is the policy of the Public Works Department to make serious effor.; to help backblacik settlers to obtain current," said Mr. Toogood, "but rather by their methods of charging they are actually imposing some restriction on rural develop. ment." "Catch ’em Early." R. TOOGOOD said that their first difficulty is in inducing the householder to accept electric service, and. this is primarily because of the cost of the necessary equipment. The case. of a new house is different, because with electric service other ex. (Concluded on page 40.) ; .

Beneficent Electricity. ‘ _ (Gontinued: from. page, 39.) * penses such. as washhouses, kitchen chimneys, etc, can be’ eliminated. if, electrical equipment.is adopted. In equipping. a new house electricity can offer unequalled service: at almost the game .cost -as the more. primitive methods. Some supply authorities search building permits regularly to find out when-building is proposed, and where new. houses are in the. process of being built an active canvass is made to induce owners to adopt electrical service, This, while being of some value, is a late point to start, because quite frequently plang have been preyared and contracts let prior to the puilding permit being asked for, and some difficulty is met in making vhanges. . . Mr. Toogood urged that the point to start was with the architects and builders, and some supply authorities gave done this: with marked success. Notwithstanding their efforts to edueate the public it appeared that there vere still a number of architects who yid not give their clients any lead on the matter of-the service offered by an electrical board. Mr. Toogood:men-~ tioned the economies affected by the. ise of electricity in the size of the kitchen and scullery in many cases,

and the saving would almost, if not completley, cover. the cost of an electric range, washing;machine, and hot water. system. In country districts -where wood or: coal fuel was used, he considered the saving would be-in fayour of the electrically equipped house. Supply authority engineers were ad: ‘yised by Mr. Toogood to approach ‘all -architects.at regular intervals, and in‘duce them to accept ‘electric domestic service as a high ideal worthy of their

advocacy. He condemned the principle of some supply authorities who, he believed, offered contractors a bonus or percentage on cost of electrical equipment installed in houses built by them in order to induce them to amend a contract ,in ‘favour of electrical equipment. If they .could prove that an electrically equipped ‘house could be built for less money, and that the extra cost of the electrical equipment would not be burdensome to the owner, Mr. ‘Toogood was sure al] reputable architects whose code of ethics was beyond reproach, would think in terms of electricity for household service. ,

Dad bales teeth hat rte ata hate hated In an article ow "Sim ple. Physical Exercises,’.a doctor says. that it is a wise plan to walk upstairs. occasionally on tip-toe. Flusbands who return home several hours later than usual would also do well to remove their boots. TIL