POWER SUPPLY POSITION

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26026, 1 February 1950, Page 4

POWER SUPPLY POSITION

ENGINEERS MEET MR GOOSMAN USE OF STEAM PLANTS DISCUSSED (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. Jan. 31. Engineers from the Electric Power Supply Authority Engineers’ Institute and members of the State Hydro-elec-tric Department and the Ministry of Works met the Minister of Works (Mr W. S. Goosman) to-day to discuss, at Mr Goosman’s suggestion, the future power supply of New Zealand. As a basis for discussion, the general manager of the State Hydro-electric Department (Mr A. E. Davenport) and the Commissioner of Works (Mr E. R. McKillop) outlined the present and glanned development in the North and outh Islands.

Much of the discussion centred on the provision of power from geothermal and steam plants, mainly for the North Island, though it was agreed that the main part of the North Island’s supply would for some time be derived from water power. The Government will be asked to obtain the services of a British firm of engineering consultants to assist in planning for an addition to the steam plant at King’s wharf, Auckland, and to tender advice on steam plants generally.

For Nelson and Marlborough the extensions to the Cobb river station are scheduled to be in operation in 1952, and investigations are being made in the Lake Rotoroa area. The works at Pukaki, Tekapo, and Roxburgh were dealt with, and it was stated that the additions to the Waitaki station would go ahead. Although general satisfaction with these plans was expressed, it was pointed out that there was a possibility that power from Tekapo might not be available before the winter of 1951, and it was agreed that every effort must be made to guard against this delay. If the plant and intake works are in operation there should be sufficient storage to ensure a supply for the winter of 1951. At the Cobb river a shortage of artisans is causing some delay, and efforts are being made to overcome this difficulty. In the North Island, the main insistence was that hydro-electric development should proceed as speedily as possible along the present lines, and all agreed that the major part of the electric supply for the North Island should be derived from water power for some time to come. Italian Developments Mr McKillop gave some information about geothermal power developments in Italy. He said it was hoped to secure practical evidence in a year or 18 months. It was resolved by the meeting to recommend that the Government should immediately obtain the services' of a British firm to assist the State Hydro-electric Department in formulating proposals for an addition to the present plant at King’s wharf, Auckland, and to advise on steam plants generally. It is intended when the reports on geothermal resources are available to discuss the technical aspects with the supply authority engineers. A short discussion took- place about small power plants. Some mention was also made to the necessity for close collaboration between the State Hydro-electric Department and the Ministry of Works, and Mr Goosman indicated that he was satisfied . from his own observations that the two were working closely together and doing their best to meet a huge programme of work under difficult conditions. It was agreed that no useful purpose would be served by altering the present arrangements. Mr Goosman said he intended to maintain the fullest degree of co-oper-ation between the departments and the supply authorities, and expressed his willingness to discuss the mutual problems at any time. He also saw the necessity for giving the people of New Zealand all possible information about the supply of power and. of the progress being made.