THE ELECTRICITY SHORTAGE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 14370, 21 May 1947, Page 3

THE ELECTRICITY SHORTAGE

REQUEST TO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Particulars Of Generating Plants Supplementing North Island Supply A request for particulars of any stand-by plants for electricity generation available in the Tauranga district, was received recently by the Tauranga Chamber of ' Commerce from the Auckland chamber. It had come to the chamber’s notice, stated the letter from Auckland, that there were a large number of plants for electricity-generation abandoned in various parts of the North Island when the Government assumed the monopoly of electricity supply, and that some of these were still in such a condition that they could be put into operation without much, expense and used to supplement the present somewhat meagre North Island electricity supply. In requesting particulars of any such stand-by plants in the district, the Auckland chamber asked for details concerning the capacity of these plants, location, approximate expense of putting them into operation and the time that the process was likely to involve. It would be appreciated, the letter concluded, *if the chamber would treat this request for information as a question ■of ..urgency, so that suitable representations might he made to the authorities before the winter was fully upon them. Replying to the request, the Tauranga chamber outlined the situations of plants that were in operation at that time, but which the chamber had no knowledge as to the state of repair or efficiency they were in at present, or any idea as to ccsts necessary to bring them into production again. The location of plants outlined were Opunake and Kappnga in the Taranaki district, Okere at Rotorua and a small plant at Whakatane which, it was understood, was out of action at the present time. One of the Taranaki plants was, it was believed, kept in a fair state of repair, but any* information would have to be ascertained from the respective boroughs. where these Plants were situated. It was hoped, stated the Tauranga chamber, that the information would be of some assistance in jthe Auckland chamber’s endeavour to try and supple-, ment ■ the present acute shortage. It was reported at the monthly meeting of the Tauranga chamber 'On Monday evening that Auckland had replied stating that the information supplied was very helpful, and the secretary’s action in giving the information was confirmed.