ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18096, 11 June 1924, Page 11

ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY.

COLERIDGE AND TEKAPO COMPARED.

SOUTH CANTERBURY OPINION

(SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.") j TIMAKU, June 10. I At to-day's meeting of the South Canterbury Power Board, Mr C. E. Kerr moved: "That in view of the fact that the single transmission line is unreliable, and that the plant at Lake Coleridge is overloaded, and it being useless to make further demands on this source of supply, it ia desirable that the Power Board immediately investigate Lake Tekapo, with a view to installing a power plant to meet the demands and aspirations of both town and country." Speaking to the resolution, Mr Kerr said that ever since he had been a member of the Board he had been of the opinion that Lake Tekapo was their only hope. Lake Coleridge, he said, had been a dismal failure. The Board during its twelve months' existence had wasted time and money, and, furthermore, they had not justified their existence. There was nothing but trouble with the Coleridge transmission line. Coleridge was overloaded and could not possibly meet the demands made upon it. He had found, from figures he had obtained, that Lake Tekapo could be harnessed even more cheaply than he had previously informed the Board. Mr Birks, in his report, had not foreseen the trouble that they I were in at the present time. Mr C. J. Talbot: What about the ways and means?

Mr J. B. Bruce supported Mr Kerr, and said he had always been in favour of developing Lake Tekapo. Lake Coleridge was absolutely unreliable. Mr J. Anstcy stated that years before Lake Coleridge was developed he had advocated the development of Lake Tekapo. The Coleridge installation had been built on tho wrong lines mechanically, and the materials were inferior. Mr G. J. Wallace endorsed Mr Kerr's remarks, and supported the investigation of Lake Tekapo. There was not much chance, he said, of their getting the 1500 horse-power necessary from Lake Coleridge, and a short while back there had been grave doubts about the power from Lake Coleridge at all. Mr W. E. Mills said that they had not the confidence of the ratepayers. They had been working along wrong lines, and a report on Tekapo would be a step in the right direction. Mr J. C. South thought that just because the transmission line was bad they should not lay the blame- on Coleridge power. All that was necessary wore good insulators. Then they should find out if the Government would grant a license if Lake Tekapo were harnessed. Mr C. J. Talbot said he felt that the Government's promise, of a supply" of power would be honoured. They had done the right thing in taking Lake Coleridge power when it came along and reticulating the district. The motion before them lacked the essential point, namely, the ways and means. Then, where was the money coming from? The investigation would cost £SOOO, and there would be more trouble if they went to the ratepayers on .the matter. He was of opinion that Mr Kerr should hold back his motion in the meantime.

The chairman (Mr .T. Kennedy) said that a deputation should wait on the Government asking if they would grant permission to go on if the money was found. Tho motion got them nowhere in its present form. They had not got the money, and that was all there was about it.

Mr Kerr said that even when Coleridge was duplicated, all the power would bo absorbed by Christchureh. They had to look to their own scheme. The people were unanimous that the best scheme was Lake Tekapo. Mr Talbot moved that the following should be added to Mr Kerr's motion: "That expenditure be limited to £250, and that before any expenditure is incurred a deputation be sent to Wellington to get an assurance from tha Government that the Board will be allowed to develop. Lake Tekapo." On being put to the vote, this addition was adopted by 5 to 4, and Mr Kerr's motion was then carried. Mr J. E. Templiri, the Board's consulting engineer, outlined a proposal in committee regarding Lake Tekapo, and the Board accepted his offer to make a report.