STATE POLICY ON STANDBY PLANTS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27912, 8 March 1956, Page 12

STATE POLICY ON STANDBY PLANTS

Wellington Mayor’s Criticism “SORRY STORY” OF EVANS BAY STATION (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. March 7. If municipalities had been encouraged by the Government to help themselves when the power shortage developed there might now not have been such a lack of electricity in the country, said the Mayor of Wellington (Mr R. L. Macalister) today. Mr Macalister said that the “sorry i story” of the Evans Bay power station showed just how little encouragement had been given. About 25 years ago the then council, realising that electricity shortages were increasing, built as a standby the power station at Evans Bay. which still stood there. That power station was meant to help the city. Ratepayers paid for it. But as soon as shortages became grave the States "grabbed the whole station.” and instead of Wellington getting all the power it could generate, it got only a share from the national grid. It would be little use municipialities putting in additional power stations—“as history has a great habit of repeating itself.” That was a great pitv, the Mayor said, for if municipalities had been encouraged to help themselves their total effort would have made a great difference in periods of scarcity.

“If there had been 10 Evans Bay stations that would have been a considerable help,” the Mayor said.