POWER BOARD LOAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 248, 19 October 1928, Page 5

POWER BOARD LOAN.

PROPOSAL TO RATEPAYERS.

SUM OF £675,000 REQUIRED.

KEEPING PACE WITH GROWTH.

Having approved of the schedule of works to be covered fay the loan, the Auckland Electric Power Board has decided to submit to ratepayers before the end of the year a proposal to borrow £675,000 for the extension and improvement of plant and reticulation.

Of the total a sum of about £250.000 is required for general extension and for future needs as they arise. Another large sum is to be used for a 22,000-volt cable to provide direct connection between the Penrose station and the suburban sub-stations as far west as Kingsland. Under present conditions power has to be relayed through the board's station at King's wharf. The direct service will make the system far more efficient.

The chairman of the board (Mr. W. J. Holdsworth) stated that in view of the expected setting up of a transport board in Auckland, the Power Board had to anticipate an increased demand for power from the tramways. If the tramways were extended the erection would become necessary of further sub-stations around Auckland.

It was also stated by the chairman that the board anticipated changes afa King's wharf station in view of the early completion of the Arapuni scheme. For the stand-by plant there would need to be a' change over from coal to oil fuel. Another factor was that the present reticulating system needed to be strengthened in order to carry the increasing load. The board also anticipated completing the reticulation of outer districts such as Manukau Count v.

Mr. Holdsworth has predicted that the bringing into use of the first turbine at Arapuni will result in still further demands for power, also that the new railway workshops at Otahuhu will soon be calling for more power. He has also pointed out that the demands for domestic uses and lighting are all the time increasing.