"POSITION GRAVE."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 30, 6 February 1928, Page 10

"POSITION GRAVE."

POWER FOR AUCKLAND.

DELAY AT ARAFUNL

COMMENT BY MR. HOLDSWORTH,

GOVERNMENT URGED TO ACT,

The Arapuni undertaking is a national one, and of outstanding importance to the Auckland province, and its completion now is the sole responsibility of the Government," declared the chairman of the Auckland Electric Power Board at to-day's meeting of that body, in giving his impressions of the board's lecent visit of inspection of the works. The unfortunate delay and the taking over by the Government of the under - taking from the W. G. ArmstrongWitworth Company required no comment at the present juncture, but the completion was of paramount importance. One felt about Arapuni thajt good progress had been made in every direction, with the exception of the power house. The diversion of the river seemed to have lessened the difficulties on the site, but the uncertainty of the completion makes the position, as far as the board was concerned, a real serious one. Fortunately the diversion of the river happened at a most favourable time, and caused least inconvenience to the working of the King's Wharf station. Suggestions for Speeding Up. The whole position is so important and fraught with such possibilities that this board should immediately urge the Government to give effect to the following:— (1) To expedite the erection of plant at Penrose, so that the three sets can start operating by June, 1928; (2) to complete Arapuni at the earliest possible moment; (3) in order to relieve the acute serious position that has arisen through the delay, that one turbine be installed and put into operation first; and (4) that should the work prove difficult and arduous, that four shifts of six hours each be woi'ked. This would have rne elTect of speeding up the work and at the same time absorb a lot of surplus labour on the market. "No Ordinary Case." "It would be impossible to overstress the importance of this work on the commercial, industrial, agricultural and domestic life of the community. While from the Government standpoint, a quick return for the large capital outlay is desirable, it is far more important that there should be no shortage of power for the primary producers or the secondary industries; also that the progress of the Auckland Province should not be retarded. This is no ordinary case. Therefore ordinary measured are out of the question; to meet the exceptional situation, exceptional measures are required," T n conclusion Mr. Holdsworth asked the members of the board, in the interests of its consumers, and in the interests of the Auckland Province, to give due consideration to the report, and to act upon it.