Electricity Supply.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20038, 20 September 1930, Page 14

Electricity Supply.

It is cheering to learn that the representations made to the Minister for Public Works by a deputation of Canterbury Members of Parliament in Wellington yesterday determined him to take a definite step to give the province what it has every right to expect, material assurance against a shortage or failure of electric power. Mr Taverner promised that an adequate steam stand*by plant would be installed to assist the Coleridge station, when required, in coping with next winter's demand; and he added that he would not expect anybody to pay anything towards the cost of it. From othfr observations made by the Minister it appears that he holds the belief, based upon recent unfortunate experiences, that our hydro-electric plants cannot be depended upon, and that auxiliary power plants, presumably steam-driven, will have to be established. It is of course essential that power supply should be secure, continuous, and sufficient j and it is too lenient a view to take that, if the supply fails in those respects, we must blame the weather. Mr Taverner himself admits that the Departmental anticipations of demand have been faulty. He also, in effect, admits that Lake Coleridge has been over developed; and he is now willing, after the Departmental policy has been tested and has betrayed its weakness, that the Christchurch City Council should be given power to proceed with the Waimakariri scheme, which has been bitterly opposed by the Department's officers. The Council, then, should make sure that, if ever it becomes necessary to push on with the scheme, there will be no obstacles in the way. Much, of courap, depends on the nature of the Government's plans for a chain of auxiliary stations. In the meantime, however, the position is unrelieved. The Engineer in. Chief Has said that it is "not as hopeless as " those unacquainted with the situa- " tion probably believe," and that " Coleridge is still producing 22,000 " kilowatts and had never turned out "more 30,000"; but it remains the duty of every consumer to economise as much as possible in the nse of current, until the level of the lake rises to safety s point.