Newsletter 1977

STAFF NEWSLETTER

August, 1977

It seems as though Christmas was last month, but the calendar tells us that we are half way through 1977. This fact is gratifying in some ways. We can now anticipate the coming festival season, wonder what Father Christmas will bring, and look forward to a good year in 1978, (we hope!!)

The Napier Police were recently successful in apprehending two youths who were removing fuses from some of the Board’s Power Poles. It is very difficult to control this type of vandalism, and beside being extremely dangerous, it is most annoying for consumer and Fault Staff.

The winter and the restoring of the previous limits of loan money available for interest free Insulation Loans has resulted in a steady increase in the number of people seeking this type of service. During May, the Board received 144 applications for loans, the majority of which were for ceiling insulation only. The Government budget increased the maximum amount available as interest free loans to $400. This move will undoubtedly show another increase in demand for home insulation.

Mr. K.R. Gillon, the Board’s Chairman, was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List as a recipient of the M.B.E. He was also recently awarded the 25th Jubilee Medal. The Staff extended its warmest congratulations to Mr. Gillon, who received these honours for the many years he has contributed to Community Service, and in particular the electrical industry.

The Board opened another loan on 1st July, 1977, and is offering the following rates of interest:

2 years   10%
3–5 years   10.25%
6–10 years   10.5%

Anyone interested in depositing money, should contact either Mr. Badland or Mr. Sanders.

Mr. Alf Ericksen retired from the Board on Friday 1st July, after 26 years service. Mr. Ericksen was an active member of the Social Club, but is known to many as the man with the money. (Every Thursday that is). We wish to extend to Mr & Mrs Ericksen best wishes for a long and happy retirement.

The Board was recently host for another training course for Foremen. These courses are run by the Electrical Industry Training Board, and comments received by those attending were generally in favour of the course content. It is planned to arrange training courses within the Board for different groups of employees, using the Board’s facilities and staff. The first course was held on Thursday 14th July, for assistant supervisors, and this will be followed in August with a course for apprentices.

– 2 –

The Board’s Executive Staff recently looked into the possibility of using the Puneketoro Stream, a tributary of the Mohaka River, for the possible construction of a small hydro scheme. Discussions with the N.Z. E.D. revealed that it is possible that a dam may be built on the Mohaka, at a point between where the Puneketoro now joins the Mohaka, and the site of a power station. Should this be the case then the Board’s proposal would be approximately 15 years before becoming redundant. This would make the development of the Puneketoro uneconomic. The decision to carry out a feasibility study has been deferred by the Board members at the July meeting.

It may be of interest to note that the generation of Electrical energy for one week was:-

Production by Gas   18%
Production by Oil   5.7%
Production by Coal   4.4%
Production by Geothermal   4.9%
Production by Hydro   67.0%

Mr. K. Foote has been appointed to the Board’s staff as Accountant, and he will take up his duties during August. Mr Foote is to fill the position left vacant by Simon Cowan last year, and we would like to take this opportunity to welcome him to the Board’s staff.

The Parkvale Depot has been the scene of vigorous tree planting in an effort to make the depot more attractive.

Mr “Snow” Lowe has been appointed Groundsman & Gardiner [Gardener] and will be responsible for the care and maintenance of the Board’s gardens, lawns, and surroundings at the Depots and Substations. The Housing Corporation has cleared the area of ground to the West of the Parkvale Depot, and a new fence has been erected between the Housing Corporation land, and the Board’s Depot.