ELECTRICITY IN NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20789, 24 February 1933, Page 17

ELECTRICITY IN NEW ZEALAND.

GROWTH OF SUPPLY SYSTEMS. ADDRESS TO CIVIL ENGINEERS. The rapid growth of electricity supply systems in New Zealand and tho collective magnitude of the many undertakings necessary to supply consumers with power were mentioned by tho president of the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers (Mr F. T. M. Kissel), in his presidential address at the annual conference of the society last evening. Mr Kissel, who is chief electrical engineer to the Public Works Department, gave a very exhaustive survey of hydro-electric development in New Zealand. He said that electricity had been made available to over 90 por cent, of tho population of New Zealand, which was probably as high a percentage as in any othor country in the world. Expenditure on Governmeut hydro-electric development in tho Dominion had increased from £1383,000 m Ip 17 to £1L',500,000 in IQ'o2, and the total expenditure of all supply authorities from about £3,300,00u in 1920 to £32,000,000 in 1932. Early Legislation. Mr Kissel first referred to the curly law dealing with tho use of electricity in New Zealand, tracing tho law from the -first legislation (the Electric Telegraph Act, .1805) through its modifications to. ultimate consolidation in the Post and Telegraph Act of 1908. Tho Eloctrie Motive Power Act of 1890 was particularly interesting in that it gave tho first indication that the Government was becoming aware of the value of New Zealand's water powers. It provided for investigation into the use of electric motive power on the goldfields. The principal provision dealing with tho development of water power and the* erection of electric lines at tho present time was contained in the Public Works Act and its amendments consolidated in 1928. Mr Kissel outlined the principal provisions of the Electric Power Boards Act, which, he said, was most important in tho schemo of electrical distribution, and which had undoubtedly made possible, much of the rural reticulation that had taken place in the past 10 years. Uses in the Country. "In Bomo of the earlier country reticulation schomes the promoters may have been somewhat too ambitious and gone out into areas that have nut been profitable," continued Mr Kissel, "but] for the past few years greater caution has been Observed, and in practically no case now are lines being extended out into areas Unless sufficient guaranteed rovenuo is in sight to provide a reasonable return on tho investment. I no. people in tho country appreciate the tines of electricity probably more than do tho people in the towns, and the results An some of theso country areas, are vorr satisfactory. Many of tho main distribution lines radiating into the country districts are already providing loads well in excess of the per capita load of 0.2 horse-power, which has been used as a general basis of design tor the Now Zealand system. This load has not yet been reached over the whole country, or perhaps not quite oyer the wholo reticulated area, but there is little doubt that the figure will bo i reached at an early date. Electricity is now available in about. 21,180 square miles in New Zealand, or in slightly more than 20 per cent, of the total area. Of the 10,930 squaro miles ■reticulated in the North Island, 10,280 are connected to the Government system and only 650 are supplied from other generating plants. In the South Island, on the other hand, the Government system supplies only 4G40 square miles, whilst othor authorities supply 0011. Contracts have been entered into, however,- by which 990! square miles of this'area rcccivo part at least of its supply from the Government. Electric supply is available to about 93 per cent, of the total population, and each unit ■of. population within this reticulated area has used on the.average 495 units of electricity during the past year. Though the average consumption per capita has not shown quite the same increase during the past 1.0. years Min preceding ones, it is reassuring to-know that in spite of depression it still continues to grow."

Capital Expenditure. Referring to capital expenditure on supply systems by tho Government and tb? va/ioiw supply authorities, Mr Kissel stated that tho Government exnendituro had increased iwm *3Boj«X) [T1917, to £1,850,000 in 1922, to_ £8 -1 699,000 in 1927, and £12,500,000 m 1882 j whilst the total or all supply authorities had increased from about I £3,300,000 in 1920, to £G,COOOOO m 1922, £19,700,000 m 1927, .and 432,OOO.OXX) in 1932. A proportion or this I total capital represented assets not yet. in operation and on which construction Work Was still in hand. 1 biai particularly -referred to Government ex-, nendituro, where it was inevitable that j iu the construction of large works largo sums had to be expended beiore any revenue could bo received, ihese works were not included in tho department's operating account, interest ou the capital expenditure on any majorsections of the work which .were not operating being charged against capital Tho speaker was afraid that the burden of the ■ non-operative capital was not always fully appreciated by tho department's customers, particularly those who owned generating plants of their own and who were negotiating fur auxiliary supply from the Government,. ' Cost to Consumers. After a review of the different methods under , which the.supply wiis administered, illustrating the extent to which Government power is becoming the predominating feature in electricity supply, and a reference to the controversy between power boards and local body suppliers over the rights of supply, Mr Kissel spoke of the position u( the consumer. The per caput con-c-tinipticu had gradually 140 units in 1920 to 495 at the present time, ho said. The depression of the must two vears had slowed • down the rate of increase, but had, caused pract.callv no falling off in demand. Wr-h the reticulation spreading out into the country districts, the consumers tor every mib of line fell rapidly. The average revenue a consumer showed a «radu!l increase from loss than 4:10 W a consumer per annum to a maximum of £l2 in 1930. and a very slight d Urease bst year. The capital 7iulay j consumer showed a decided inere.se tliL "ei.'g due partly to the much larger proportion of country areas supi Hi n-irtiv in the ncrca.-iiig demand J fcap P ", and also to the fact that many parts of the system as built up were in excess of present requirements The capital outlay for every £1 of revenue remained about constani. "ft Ins often been stated that the .listributim: f*f electricity in this count, v Ins been overdone, and that its ■I ;, n luxury that could well be done tinned Mr Kissel. ."Tt can '«Uy Ho claimed that the use or e ocXitv in industry is a luxury and if t was not economically sounc • -to. use > U would not be used. There remains the ordinary farming and do-

as as £l2; for ordinary domestic purposes the average is about £6 7s ]od per annum. This supplies in practically all cases lighting for a household of four or five persons. Distribution Successful. "It can quite legitimately be claimed that the distribution of electricity in New Zealand has been successful," Mr Kissel concluded. "I have shown how it has been made available to more than 90 per cent, of the population, probably to as high a percentage of ihe population as in any other country in tho world. The Minister for Public Works has shown in his last annual statement that tho present system has enabled various local bodies to make very substantial reductions in their costs, since power from Government sources lias been made available. Everything has not yet been done, and what has been done may still be improved, but I think 1 might well conclude mv remarks with a claim that the engineering profession in New; Zealand, in developing the scheme of electrical industry has not been unmindful of the definition that engineering is the science and art of applying economically the laws. . forces, and materials of Nature for the use. convenience, or enjoyment of men." CONFERENCE CONTINUED. EDUCATION OF STUDENTS CONSIDERED. The nineteenth annual conference of the Now Zealand Society of Civil Engineers was continued yesterday morning, after delegates had spent an hour in an interesting tour of the engineering laboratories at Canterbury College Tho laboratories wcro in working ordor, and delegates wcro shown various tests and experiments being carried out. The breaking stresgth of a gin steel rodwas I demonstrated on the hydraulic horizon- j tul testing machino, which exerted a pulJ of over 8 tons before the rod broke apart. Some important tests on the relationship of soil contents to engineering were also described. In conference in a lecture room in the Engineering School, delegates resumed discussion on the paper on tho effects of earthquakes ou electric supply systems, presented by Messrs I. It. Robin son and H. L. Benjamin, and also dis cussed papers on "The Reconstruction of the Upper Mannwatu Bridge," by Mr W. h. Nownhum, and "Retaining Walls of Moderate Height," by Mr A. G. Park, and presented by Mr Nownham. Status of Engineering. A report on the status of engineering education in New Zealand, presented by the subcommittee set up to consider tho subject was referred to the council of the society. The report stated that considerable discussion disclosed that while many difficulties appeared to exist a reconsideration of tho curriculum might be desirable. The matters mentioned as being deserving of consideration were: More practical aspects of mathematics and the desirability of reaching this subject from a more direct engineering viewpoint, rather than as a pholisophica! subject; industrial chemistry, and subjects relating to economics. It was the opinion of tho?c considering the matter that no lowering of the standard of education was desirable, but rather that efforts might lie made to interest the student in his studies as a future engineer at a much earlier time in his college course. Tt was recognised that the teaching of fundamentals was a very essential part of a university course and of equal importance was the necessity to fit the student to take his place in tho field of practical achievement and become a loader amongst men. The following resolution was passed: "It is desirable that the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers should set np a committee to co-operate with the Faculty of the School of Engineering with the object of investigating tho possibilities of adjusting the curriculum whoro it may be necessary, so as to bring- the teaching and the practice of tho profession into better alignment."

New President Takes Office. Apart from the presentation of the presidential address by Mr F. T. M. Kissel, the most important business transacted at the final meeting of -the delegates, last evening, was the installation of the new president, Mr F. J. j Williams, of Duncdin. | In accordance with custom,' it was moved and carried that the president be asked for permission to have his address included in the publication of the proceedings of the society, and a vote of thanks was passed to Mr Kissel for his informative paper. Mr Kissel then introduced the presi-dent-elect, stating that Mr Williams was one of the oldest members of the society, which had very recently come of age. Mr Williams then took office and announced that the conference was closed. The delegates and their wives wore later the guests of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College at supper in the Students' Union rooms. FULTON BEQUEST. GOLD MEDAL PRESENTED. ' The last official, duty of the retiring president of the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers (Mr F. T. M. Kissel), at the concluding meeting of the delegates attending the annual conference, held last night, was to present the Fulton Gold Medal to" Mr Peter Holgate, of Wellington, to whom the award was made for 1932. The medal is awarded under a bequest made to the society by J. E. Fulton, a foundation member, the income from which is applied to the award of the Fulton Gold Medal, for the best paper presented in each year by any member of the society, and the Fulton Silver Medal, for the "best paper by any student of the society. No award was made in 1932 for the silver medal. In the report of the trustees of the bequest, Mr J. G. Lancaster stated that the papers presented for the year for the gold medal numbered seven. Mr llolgate had secured the award for his paper on "Building Construction to Resist Earthquake." It. was regretted that no students had sent in papers for consideration for the silver medal, and it was suggested that the senior members should bring before juniors the advantages of success in the competition. The announcement of the award to Mr Holgate was received with enthusiasm. When accepting the gold medal from Mr Kissel, Mr Holgate stated that he had undertaken the preparation of the paper because he felt the real need for such a work in New Zealand. VISIT TO PORT. INSPECTION OF HARBOUR EQUIPMENT. Members of the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers attending the annual conference at Cliristcliurch, and their wives, were the guests of the Lyttelton Harbour Board yesterday afternoon, when they were taken round the harbour in the tug Lyttelton. The party

was first shown the crane-ship Kapalu at work, a feature being that the Rnpalti was not using her own steam for tho work, but was receiving steam from the tug by a flexible steam-pipe. It was explained that for short lifts this method saved the expense of raising steam in tho Rapaki. No. 5 shed and No. 1 breastwork, now in course of reconstruction, were next inspected, and the visitors were interested in the large amount of c P n " croting involved. Boarding the dredge Canterbury, the party was shown the dredge at work cutting the bottom of the harbour and lifting the spoil by moans of huge suction pumps. The tug then took the visitors down the harbour and anchored in Buckley's Bay while afternoon tea was served. When the party returned to the inner harbour tho graving dock and the Public Works Department's standby plant were inspected, and tho visitors returned to Christchureh by the 5.10 p.m. train. Harbour Board Thanked. During the afternoon tea on board the tug Mr F. T. M. Kissel, chairman of the society, said that on behalf ot the members be wished to thank the chairman of tho Harbour Board, Mr W. T. Lester, the secretary, Mr C. B. Clibborn, the engineer, Mr P. W. Fryer, andTnembers of tho board for their hospitality. An engineers' conference was a dry job, and after the three or four days' work the outing arranged by the board was appreciated by all. "If this outing ' as given auv pleasure to our visitors, it has given more pleasure to us," said Mr Lester in reply. It had been the Custom of the board for many years to take any opportunity of showing visitors the harbour works and> facilities, he said. The board was glad to have the visitors present for a short period during their stay in Canterbury.