ELECTRIC SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 223, 21 June 1928, Page 6

ELECTRIC SUPPLY

DEVELOPMENT IN DOMINION

TRIBUTE TO GOVERNMENT

The chief guest at the annual dinner of the Electric Supply Authority Engineers’ Association last night was the Hon. A. IX McLeod (Minister of Lands and of Industries and Commerce). The chair was occupied by Mr. H. F. Toogood (president of the association), and there was a large gathering of engineers and others connected with the electrical industry.

In proposing the toast-of “The Government,” the president said he was proud to welcome Mr. McLeod, because electrical engineers owed much to the present Administration, which had lost no opportunity to develop the electrical industry. It had been very active in investigating all possible supplies of hydro-electricity. Its Power Boards Act was a very daring piece of legislation, but it had proved a very sound measure, and one that was in the interest of progress. But for that Act the development of electric power mid. the industry generally would not have reached the stage it was in to-day. The Local Bodies Loans Act was another very sound measure that had emanated from the present Government, which was to be commended also for its setting up on a sound basis of the Scientific and Industrial Research Department. Replying to the toast, the Minister said he doubted if the people fully realised how thankful they should be for the natural facilities with which this Dominion was so liberally endowed. Dealing with the extraordinary development of hydro-electric works during the last ten years, the Minister remarked, that the capital invested had increased from £l,500,000 in 1918 to nearly £19,000,000 last year. The generating capacity had increased in ten years from 43,890 k.w, to 138,915 k.w. The number of people to whom electric current was available had increased from 467,000 to 1,239,935. In 1927 there were 225,345 consumers, the revenue from whom was £2,904,000, or £l2 7s. per consumer per annum. Lust year there were in use 9511 electric ranges, 14,160 electric heaters, and 6738 milking plants operated by. electricity. As Minister of Industries and Commerce he knew what electric light and power meant to factories and the workers, and as Minister of Lands he had seen a revolutionary change in the rural districts due to the advent of hydro-electricity on the farms. It had played an enormous nnd wonderful part in the development of dairying—our greatest industry. In responding to the toast of “His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner,” Mr. Elmslie dwelt on the progress of the electrical manufacturing industry in Britain since the war. The exports of electrical machinery and other goods had increased from £3,300,000 in 1913, and £2,500.000 in 1919 to £13,366,000 in 1926. He hoped that New Zealand would continue buying from Britain. During the first quarter of the present year the imports into the Dominion of electrical goods and equipment amounted to £442,000, of which £300,000 worth came from Britain. A tribute to the Public Works De*partment was paid by Mr. E. Hitchcock in a humorous speech. Replying to the toast,. Mr. F. W. Furkert (chief engineer of the Department) said he had always held that the public works engineers were the servants of the people, and it was their duty to satisfy their employers. He quoted figures showing the expenditure on railways, roads, public buildings, hydro-electric schemes, and many other works carried out by the Department. During the last sixteen years the Public Works Department had snent £40,865,558. It had built 305 miles of railway, which represented one mile for fevery fortnight. Its road construction represented SO miles of reading for every week of the sixteen years, during which time it had built over 32 miles of bridges, 270 miles . of water-races, and many large irrigation dams. It had build 26 new lighthouses, and its public building programme included post bffice« at the rate of one every three weeks. There were at the present time 697 permanent and 600 temporary officers and 11,500 rank and file in the service of the Department. Mr. F. T. M. Kissell (chief electrical engineer- of the Department), who also responded, said nothing was gained by claiming that the Public Works Department was responsible for three-quarters of the National Debt. (Loud laughter.) Other toasts honoured were the “Post and Telegraph and Railway Departments,” "The Power Boards’ Association,” “The Engineering Institutions,” and “The Advisory Committee.”