progressive league

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 232, 25 June 1921, Page 7

progressive league

CHANGE-OVER- FOR HYDRO-ELEC-

TRIG POWER.

Mr. C. M. Luke presided over a meeting of the committee of the Progress League held last night. With respect to the hydroelectric power scheme, the secretary (Mr. G. Mitchell, M.P.) said, in his report, that ho was now much concerned about the readiness of the powers boards, and especially the city, to receive the power when it was ready for delivery. No movement had been made in the Hutt \ alley to form a power board, and as the process of forming a board was a lengthy one. it was necessary that a start should be made immediately. The power boards outside Wellington were said to be in a much more favourable position than, the city. The change-over to receive the Mangahso power, it was stated, would be a long and a costly one. Lt was anticipated that the change-over would cost .£250,000 to .£300,000, and the Evans Bay project, would cost approximately double that amount. Up lo the present there had been no outward and visible sign of even a policy having being decided on. On this point ths Mayor (Mr. R, A. Wright) said that they should have started long ago, but they had no money, and the council was not willing to commit itself to the purchase of machinery, etc.., without having the funds in sight. A r soon as the council was able to borrow the money, ihe authority for which had barm obtained from ihe ratepayers, the work would proceed. In his report, Mr. Mitchell also said that 9000 kilowatts had been allotted to the city, and if the change-over wns-com-pleted the maximum power that conld lie used by 1925 was 7000 kilowatts; and the. question was what was to become of the balance of 2000 kilowatts allotted to Hie cit.v. Be thought that this balance could bo used by extending the secondary industries in the city and suburbs, and hv other means, such ns the linking up of the Hutt. Valley and Johnsonville by an electric tram service. WUh respect to the perl returns, tire secretary reported that he had gone into the matter, and found that the Harbour Board could not compile ihe figures, because the board had no power to demand them from the consignors. He suggested that the conntiy should lx, divided np into districts of-production, about twelve for each Island, some geographical line, such as a river nr a range of Lilly, being selected as a boundary, end fl relurq published showing the yearly prodtici tton of each distrust.