WORLD POWER CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18016, 7 March 1924, Page 8

WORLD POWER CONFERENCE.

N.Z. TO BE REPRESENTED. MR L. BIRRS TO ATTEND. (special to "the press.") WELLINGTON, March 6. A World Power Conference is to be held in England next July, to consider the question of the utilisation of the undeveloped powor resources of the world, and the steps which should bo taken to develop these, with the object of effecting economies arising from the use of water-power, and at the same time assist to relievo the present engineering industries of Great Britain. The Conference has been promoted by the British Electrical, and Allied Manufacturers' Association (8.E.A.M.A.). Lord- Derby will preside. Leading engineers of Great Britain, including Mr Evan Parry, formerly Chief Electrical Engineer to the Dominion, are members of the Council and Technical Board of the Conference. The various Government Departments in Great Britain and the oversea Dominions, and foreign Governments as well, have appointed representatives to attend the Conference, which will be held at the British Empire Exhibition from June 30th to Julv 12th.

Mr Laurence Birks, Chief Government Electrical Engineer, has been appointed to represent the New Zealand Government at the Conference, and he will be leaving for England, via Australia, about the middle of April. Mr Birks, under instruction of the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. J. G. Coates), will consult various authorities at Home with respect tp electrical matters. He ia to discuss with the British Board of Trade regulations for electric lines and the precautions against fatal accidents. He will keep in touch with Mr A. F. Roberts, the New Zealand Commissioner at the British Empire Exhibition, and the High Commissioner, with the objeet of giving technical advice in response to any enquiries that may be made with regard to electric for industries in New Zealand.

The Minister has also instructed Mr Birks to investigate the latest developments in railway electrification,, electric steel smelting, and electro-chemical industries, in view of possible similar developments in New Zealand. Hydroelectric installations in Great Britain and on the Continent will be inspected by Mr Birks, including those in Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. In Sweden he will visit the electric pigiron smelting and paper-pulping factories, in view of proposals which have been made in the direction of such industries being started in future in New Zealand with electric power.

Mr Birks will arrive back in New Zealand in December.