POWER SHORTAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 32, 8 February 1928, Page 9

POWER SHORTAGE.

THAMES VALLEY STOPPAGES.

DAIRY FACTORIES SERIOUSLY

AFFECTED.

SUPPLIES TO BE CUT OFF.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

TE AROHA, Tuesday.,

In a report to the Thames Valley Power Board to-day Mr. W. G. McLeod, chief engineer to the board, stated that a considerable amount of inconvenience had been caused to consumers by the trouble experienced at Horahora since January 1. The staff had made every effort to distribute the power available to the best advantage, and consumers generally had been very considerate under trying circumstances. Latterly there had been very little trouble from Horahcra supply,, but there was no indication of what might be expected in the case of floods in the Waikato area. Since January 1 in the Waikino supply area there had been 14 stoppages over a period of nine days, involving &• loss of current for 24 hours 15 minutes. At Kerepeehi there had been 16 stoppages in 11 days, supply being unavailable for a total of 17 hours. At Waihou there had been 22 breaks in 12 days, involving loss of current for 45 hours.. At .Waihou (No. 2 area) there had been 19 -breaks

in nine days, for 33 hours 50 minutes, and l at Matamata there had been 25 breaks in 10 days, for 44J hours.

The manager, Mr. It. Sprague, reported that dairy factories could not be supplied after March 31j" and that it had been necessary to cut off supplies-to the Ohinemuri Gold and Mines Company, Limited, until the position improved. Mr. F. M. Strange said the Waitoa factory, one of the. largest in the world, was now cut off. from supplies, as the agreement empowered ' the factories to arrange for other sources of supply. This would seriously affect the .board, Which bad expended £2000. on the purchase of >lant to'carry out its obligation to supply mrrent to factories under the. three»rty agreement. He suggested a conference between the parties concerned » soon as possble. Mr. Strange said the board had telegraphed the Department for deinite information, but without result, ifter a visit to Arapuni be would not :are to prophesy what would happen in ;he event of a fresh in the river. At iresent the river was cutting a channel n the centre of the river bed, and there vas a possibility of the waters carving; rat a fresh course in the event of floods.