INDUSTRY BEGAN ON WEST COAST

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29239, 24 June 1960, Page 10

INDUSTRY BEGAN ON WEST COAST

Less than five years after the start of the first American and British public electric supply systems, New Zealand began power generation and distribution. This was at Reefton in 1887. Water - generated energy from the Inangahua river was distributed to residents over a four-mile reticulation system. From then on, electric power plants driven by water, steam, or gas were put into operation by most towns. As new uses of electricity, other

than lighting, were developed, rural districts began W demand electtic power. .. . The demand led to the State developing hydro-electric supply in the 1920’s and to the setting up of elected electric power boards after the completion Of the main State hydro stations.

In Canterbury, rural reticulation began about 1917 with the use of the Lake Coleridge supply.

Auckland followed three years later when bulk supply was made available from Horahora; and Wellington in 1924 when Mangahao power became available.

The Electricity Act of 1945 created the State Hydro-elec-tric Department which took over the control of hydro-elec-tric development, formerly vested in the Public Works Department.

Generally speaking the Government is responsible for the generation and supply of elec-

tricity, and it maintains a net-

work of transmission lines and switching stations joining the major generating stations.

Apart from certain areas, such as Southland, the Gov-

DUmontls are an essential part of the intricate industrial process of making the fine wires to carry electricity to and within a variety of devices. They are not gem Stones, but are just as precious to the industrialist planning to market a product made to the finest tolerance and of even grade over the thousands of miles of wires drawn through them when they are used as riles. Thousands of pounds worth of grey, or carbon-specked diamonds are used in this way in Christchurch for the production of wires of a diameter of l-16th of an inch or less.

ernment does not retail power but sells in bulk to local power boards. Electric power distributed for public use in New Zealand today is generated principally by water power, most of the fuel plants in operation being maintained for emer-

gency standby and to meet peak loads.

Electrical engineering is a twentieth century industry which has expanded rapidly over a period of less than 30

years under the stimulus of New Zealand’s fast hydro-* electric power development. Its various branches include i' the manufacture of electrical

machinery such as motors, transformers, condensers; do-’ mestic apparatus such as vacuum cleaners and washing machines; wires and cables and

insulating materials; electronic apparatus; radio and television receivers and radio communi-

cation equipment; wiring accessories and switcngear; electric ranges, kettles, jugs, toasters, irons, fans, radiators,' heating elements, incandescent and fluorescent lamps and neon signs.