By Rhonda Bartle

Imagine that

Imagine a time, long ago, when an electricity supply to your house or farm was not the norm.

When electricity had to be advertised in order to entice more households to hook up to it.

Imagine picking up a South Taranaki Power Board booklet in 1939 for advice on how to get the power on and then what appliances you should buy in order to use it.

Those days might seem long gone. But in the Puke Ariki archives, just such a small booklet exists. Even 65 years down the track, it makes for curious reading. 

Beginning with a lyrical quote by the writer Zola, its pages are full of information and time-warp advertising.

"The time will come when Electricity will be for everyone, like the waters of the earth and the winds of Heaven. It must be provided, and provided liberally, enabling the people to use it as they wish, like the air which we breathe."

Interesting user facts

By 1939, though electricity had been produced in South Taranaki for 30 years, there were still not many people using it, though the numbers were beginning to climb:

Users                                      

1930                1934                1938

2487                2977                3677

Electric ranges (ovens)     

37                     268                  483

Water Heaters                              51                     287                  869

Milking motors 

180                   358                   687

Embracing electricity

The second page of the booklet reads:

"For many years now, the value of electricity for lighting purposes has been recognised as being without equal and this also applies to the electric iron.

But with the wonderful advances made in recent years, numerous other devices are quickly becoming an absolute necessity and are well recognised as being past the experimental stage, so that nowadays, electric ranges and water heaters are rapidly displacing cooking and heating by other methods."

"Easy terms are available for the purchase of all such appliances and if at all in doubt about any problems, consumers are urged to call at the Power Board Showroom, in Union Street, Hāwera, where a full explanation will be forthcoming."

How to Obtain Supply

Application:

1.      The first thing to do is to obtain a copy of the proper application form from the office - ask your electrician to do it.

Wiring

2.      Once you have decided upon what you need, the details of any wiring can then be arranged for you by your electrician. He must, of course, be a registered wireman.

Financial Assistance

3.      Under a generous Hire Purchase Scheme you may buy your Hot-Water service and Electric Range on terms spread over periods to suit your needs.

Service and Inspection

Extra Service Connection

On receipt of application, any service line required is attended to at the earliest opportunity.

This is carried 60ft inside a Consumer's boundary free of charge, thereafter the Consumer pays. A special offer is in force just now whereby a Consumer installing a range or milking motor receives four chains of service line free of charge…

A list of essentials

Also found in this neat little booklet are dozens of helpful hints on what to cook on your new-fangled electric range, including Invalid Fare, and how to use the World's Finest Electric Washer!

Under the headings of Electrical Dos & Don'ts consumers are warned about the dangers of dodgy electricians and unprofessional wiring jobs.

How to Read Your Meter lists an extensive range of supply charges. Baches and cowshed supply cost less than supply to a house.

And of course, there were pictures enticing users to buy all those first electrical appliances that today we take for granted: Radios, toasters, sewing machines, washing machines, refrigerators, irons, electric roasters, clocks and kettles.

Many of these could be bought direct from the South Taranaki Electric Power Board showrooms in Union Street, Hāwera or from Newton King Ltd - Throughout Taranaki!

What Electricity Can Do

And in case you weren't convinced, this little piece of prose was bound to win you over:

ELECTRICITY

• Gives the ideal light for every room.
• Lights every dark corner in cupboard, cellar or wardrobe conveniently and economically.
• Cooks any kind of meal easily and to perfection.
• Keeps perishable food fresh and appetising for several days.
• Provides pure heat under perfect control.
• Heats the water for baths and washing up.
• Gives cooling breezes on hot days.
• Does all the hard work on washing day.
• Removes all dust from carpets, upholstery, etc.
• Drives the sewing machine.
• Works the wireless set.
• Drives the clock that keeps perfect time.
• Promotes health with its light rays, heat rays and massage.

ELECTRICITY MAKES THE HOME BRIGHTER, CLEANER, HEALTHIER!