Compiled by Cameron McCullough
At last Friday’s meeting of the Frankston and Hastings Shire Council further discussion took place relative to the financial position of the electric light undertaking.
ELECTRIC LIGHT COMMITTEE MEETING
The committee met on the 30th July, 1920.
The committee considered the report of the Shire secretary and electric light manager upon the electricity undertaking.
Moved by Cr. Brown, seconded by Cr Miles: That the committee adopt the recommendation.
The causes of the drift are: (1) That owing to loan funds being exhausted extensions have had to be made out of revenue. (2) That the majority of the houses in the area are now connected with the supply and with only new houses coming on to the system, the profits of installations and sales are insufficient to counteract the loss sustained by selling electricity below cost, and we consider it imperative that all steps should be at once taken to check the drift and place the undertaking on a payable basis.
Carried.
Moved by Cr. Pratt, seconded by Cr. Miles: That we recommend that the price for electricity for lighting be increased from 9d to 10d. per unit.
Carried.
Moved by Cr. Pratt, seconded by Cr. Oates: That we recommend that the price for electricity for power be increased to 3d. per unit, but that if any user uses more than 100 units in any one month such user be charged for that month 2d. per unit for the units used.
Carried.
Moved by Cr. Miles, seconded by Cr. Montague: That we recommend that the price for street lighting be the same as that charged for ordinary lighting.
Carried.
Moved by Cr. Miles, seconded by Cr. Pratt: That the, price charged to the Railways Department be the same as that recommended for ordinary lighting.
Carried.
Moved by Cr. Miles, seconded by Cr. Brown: That we recommend that should any motor, except the motor of the Frankston Palais De Danse Co. be used between the hours of 7pm and 10.30pm on any night, it be charged at lighting rates for that month, otherwise at power rates, and that this be strictly enforced.
Carried.
Moved by Cr. Brown, seconded by Cr. Armstrong: .That we recommend that all our electricity accounts have printed across the face: “This account must be paid within seven days, otherwise service will be disconnect ed,” and that the electric light manager and Shire secretary be empowered to enforce this recommendation; that where any accounts are owing for more than seven days a final notice be issued, and if the account is not then paid it be placed in solicitor’s hands for collection.
Carried.
Moved by Cr. Brown, seconded by Cr. Montague: That the committee adopt the report and recommend the council to adopt the recommendations of the committee as above.
Carried.
FULL COUNCIL DISCUSSION. CR. J. UNTHANK SURPRISED
On Friday last the above reports were submitted to the full council.
Cr. J. Unthank said that the fact that the electric light department had run into debt came as a big surprise to the council and also to the ratepayers.
They had left this department in the hands of three ridings, and why was it that the matter had not been brought under notice before?
He thought the whole council should have been informed before the discussion of handing over to the Electricity Commission was considered.
“I see you have decided to increase the price,” continued Cr. Unthank.
“How long has it taken to lose this £1170? The matter is very serious. When you stated to an inspector of the Commission the price you were charging he said he did not know how you were supplying it at the price.”
Cr. Wells: Extensions out of the electric light revenue instead of from loans caused the overdraft. Extensions should be liquidated by a further loan.
Cr. J. Unthank: You cannot go on raising loans. I am a representative of this shire, which is helping to carry the burden, and I ask for enlightenment on this subject today.
Cr. Brown: Do you remember a special meeting of the council, when the president placed the matter very clearly to us, practically informing us that the electric light department was in a bad way – that revenue had to be secured to square the ledger?
Cr. J. Unthank:,No, I do not.
Cr. Allen: We want a further discussion on this matter.
Cr. Oates: There is no harm in allowing a further discussion. We have nothing to fear.
Cr. J. Unthank: It is quite clear that certain councillors somersaulted.
Cr. May: I would like to correct Cr. Unthank about that remark of councillors somersaulting. It was quite plain the result of the voting. I am out to secure the light down Somerville end, and the position was not as Cr. Unthank says.
Cr. Wells: The remark was uncalled for.
Cr. Alden: I agree with Cr. J. Unthank. I have been sitting at this table for the last twelve months under the impression that the ledger was being squared and a profit being made. The question is very serious, and we should have been told the exact position.
How was it that the manager had put in a report at a previous meeting before we met the Commission? How did that report go before this council about handing over the concern?
Cr. Wells: It was a recommendation from the electric light committee.
Cr. Oates: It was only a small meeting.
Cr. Alden: The manager said in effect: “Do not study me if you want to hand over to the Commission; it will not affect me, as I have been offered a position with them.”
Cr. Wells: That was said verbally.
Cr. Alden: We were told by the Commission they could not break the power down, and suggested a depot at Frankston, when in case of a breakdown they would be on the spot.
At Dandenong they were too far away. We have been led to be believe that things were alright, and now we find you are in a bad way.
Cr. Oates: We are not.
Cr. H. Unthank: A white elephant.
Cr. Oates: It is nothing of the kind.
Cr. Wells: The reduction in the first place was only made as a trial, the public having asked us to do so.
Cr. Miles: Oh no, they did not.
Cr. Wells: It was put in as trial for six months.
Cr. Miles: You are wrong.
Cr. Wells: You are speaking about the power, not the light.
Cr. Alden: In connection with the report put in by Mr. Quartermain, would it not have been a fair thing for the Commission to have known?
Cr. Wells: At the present time there is a shire having considerable trouble with the Commission.
Cr. Alden: Who are they?
Cr. Wells: This is not the place to divulge it.
Cr. Pratt: As far as the supply was concerned, we perhaps did not make a profit, but we did on the installations.
Cr. Alden: Did you think the installations would go on for ever?
Cr. Pratt: Yes, that is why the light is to be increased now, when we hope that a profit will be made.
***
From the Pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 13 August 1926
