POWER FOR AUCKLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 150, 28 June 1927, Page 6

POWER FOR AUCKLAND.

Rather late in the day, but still opportunely, Government has now decided to undertake the supply of additional power for Auckland city and district until Arapuni is available for our purposes. We congratulate both the Ministry and the people of Auckland on this decision. For, if no help had been forthcoming, and the advent of power from Arapuni were delayed, as now seems certain, till the end of next year, the consequences to Auckland during next autumn and winter would have been simply disastrous. The policy of our Power Board and *hc industrial and I commercial arrangements of its customers have been based upon the assumption that the Government's promise would-be kept, and the expected supply of power would be ready for use at the appointed time. When it became evident that, for reasons into which we need not enter just now, the Arapuni contract would not be completed on time, the Government should immediately have set about preparations to redeem its promises by making up the deficiency. A good deal of valuable time has been lost by needless delay, but happily these mistakes are not irreparable. At the same time, it is not enough for the Government to decide upon the right course. Every effort must be made to earry that deci- ) sion into effect as soon as is practicable.