NO ASSISTANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 222, 19 September 1930, Page 9

NO ASSISTANCE.

AUCKLAND AND ARAPUNI.

SOUTHERN STATEMENTS

REPUTED. • 1 »

" WE ARE PAYING EVERY PENNY."

' "As far as Auckland wae concerned ,we were fortunate to■ have the - King's wharf station to fall back'upbn the holdup occurred at Arapuni. We would have been in a worse position than-Christ-church. This city would have been 'dead,' as almost every facility depends on the power. We were . thrown absolutely on ,our own resources ; and, the: Government gave, us no assistance.. at ■ all. ;We sincerely hope it Avill ; not be; so hard on Cliristcliurch in its present trouble."

i These . remarks were part of a state; meat made to-day to a. "Star" representative by tlie general. manager of tlie AucklandElectric-jPo wer Board, Mr; A. R. 'Bartley, when his attention was drawn ' to" utterances made ;in Christchurch a few days ago ijy a,'member of the City Council, repeated in Parliament by Mr. D; Jones, M.P., during , a discus- 1 sion on the Lake Coleridge power, supplyi

Dr. Thacker's Remarks. : "I am going to demand' that Canterbury should be treated equally as well as Auckland was.treated,by the Government. when the Arapuni plant was closed down," said Dr. H. T.-J. .Thacker, chairman of the . electricity committee of the Cliristcliurch 'City Council; . He said he anticipated that the question -of . a standby' plant would 'be dealt with by .the conference of ..South- Island', progress leagues.: The normal -increase in demand for power for nexf winter was estimated to reach. 3000 to 5000 and if nothing was done by way of an auxiliary plant he considered that Lake ■Coleridge- powerstation would be unable .'to'meet requirements after June. He did not think it right that Canterbury'should, be dependent upon what; was .done with regard to Arapuni. ■: It was essential for' them to stand staunch to their city, and-ask the power boards to demand as a right that they receive the same consideration as , Auckland, had been given. It was not a case of pitting Canterbury against Auckland; but of guarding against ;,the dire spectre of unemployment if the wheels of industry ceased. The Government should be asked to hold an inquiry to ascertain who was responsible for the public being kept so long ignorant of the situation at Lake Coleridge.'.

No Preferential Treatment. ,"It is rather, a: surprise to \ see . the statement - made by Dr. Thacker," said Mr. • Bartley, "and we - would be interested to know what he has in mind regarding any preferential trea,tincnt Auckland has received from. the Covernment. The failure of Arapuni is. very seriously affecting the cost of production of power for the Auckland district. It is true that we are now installing a< 15,000 k.w. plant and we are paying every penny of this without any assistance from the Government. The failure of Arapuni has forced the Auckland board into this position, 'as it must safeguard jts consumers. In the face of the,, great 'Uncertainty as to what will be done at Arapuni this board had to formulate its own,.plans quickly. It has done so- by. providing this additional plant.' This ;is exactly - the - position as itremains to date. The Government gave ,no; assistance to the Auckland' board when the trouble developed at Arapuni, ; and 'we had to bring the King's .wharf - steam plant into operation under very difficult coriditions. it ■X "It is quite true," concluded Mr. Bartley, "that this board is in negotiation with; the Government at present with a view ,to adjusting .matters, but [there is no 'progress to report." '