POWER SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 118, 14 February 1944, Page 6

POWER SHORTAGE

Representations Made Six Years Ago LACK OF STATE ACTION CRITICIZED The belief that if its requests had been met the present and future power shortage would not have arisen, is expressed. in a statement by the Electric Power Boards and Supply Authorities’ Association of New Zealand. The association states that it has 'been in active, anxious, and frank negotiation with the Government since 1937. After reviewing the steps it had taken, the association states that it feels it cannot be charged with precipitate criticism or sudden panic if it acquainted the public with the position. The situation was not one which had arisen in one night, nor was it one which had been entirely due to the- war and the difficulty in obtaining materials. With the approach of winter the association stated that it found it necessary to remind the public of its belief that the power restrictions must not only be continued, but also extended. The supply or electricity was likely to fall short of the demand, and the position could be met only by curtailment and consequent inconvenience. The public, therefore, was urged to plan for such a curtailment, ana to comply whole-heartedly with such restrictions as might be imposed. While making this request, however, the association. representative of and embracing the suppliers of electricity in the Dominion, felt that it must put before, the public certain aspects of which it might at present be unaware. The shortage was anticipated by the association as early as 1936-37. The steps suggested for its avoidance had either been disregarded by the Government of the day. or left fill so late that the country, and in particular the North Island, was now facing a position where a continuance of electric supply in adequate quantities in the near future, was mostunlikely. That this should occur at a time when the country was striving to maintain its national economy, meet its war responsibilities, and prepare for the rehabilitation of its soldiers and its peacetime industries, was a matter for serious concern. Moreover, as the strain on existing plant continued, due to the fact that there was now almost an entire lack of stand-by plant to help it out, the danger of a major break-down must not be overlooked. In such event, one had only to visualize the disorganization among the 30,000 owners of milking plants, among the manufacturer o , and among the housewives, in order to realize that every possible step should be taken and every endeavour made, to augment the generating capacity of the country. . Not Arisen Overnight.

The situation was not one which had arisen in one night, nor was it one entirely due to the war and the difficulty in obtaining materials. In 1937 it was brought strongly before the Government, both in the technical press of the electrical industry and by the -association, that the Government provisions being made for the future supply of bulk electric power, which was in the main a Government monopoly, were, in the view of the association, insufficient, and that unless immediate steps were taken to “step-up” the rate at which stations were being completed, a shortage would result. At the association’s annual conference in 1938, the prospect of insufficient power was made a salient feature. The Minister of Public Works and his chief electrical adviser attended and stated that there was no reason for “panic,” that the situation was well in hand. Actually, the situation was not well in hand; it was slipping out of hand, and it had slipped further and further as the years had passed. This was all the more serious in that, co-incident with the passage of these years, the Government had assumed almost complete control of the generating plants of the Dominion, and it was only through the Government —with rare exceptions—that an electric supply authority could secure in bulk the electricity which it distributed to its .cuptamers. Following on representations made, as long ago as ' 1941. certain regulations were gazetted in 1943. setting out the conditions under which electricity could be sold and charged for the purpose of water-heating. Before the middle of 1943 frank discussion took place between the association and the Electricity Controller. Fears were expressed that the Government was not fully appreciative of the position into which they were getting. Concern was expressed at the lack of action to take those steps which the association felt were necessary in order to avoid such drastic steps as would affect the economy of the country, or an actual breakdown. . Regional meetings were held in J 94a. the whole position being put before members of the association. Following these meetings, a deputation waited on the Prime Minister in July and conveyed to him the views and fears of the association. The subject was then given priority at. the annual conference in August, and the decisions reached were conveyed to the Prime Minister and to the Minister of Works during the first week in December. Association’s Help.

Before reaching its decisions, the- association as a body, and some of its members as individuals, had gone to considerable lengths to be in a position to Present a practical solution to the problem. It had set up committees of professional men with a lifetime of experience in the electricity supply business. It had explored British and foreign markets, it had received actual quotations for plant, it was prepared, to install one such plant without calling on any outside assistance. In short, jt was prepared to help and had. in fact, helped. It was ‘with regret, therefore, that the association found it necessary, at this date, to express its extreme dissatisfaction with the result of all its representations, and at the lack of action by the Government. It considered that the problem of the next four years was distinct altogether from the general question of future power supply, covered by the Government’s 10-year hydro-electric plan, published in November, 1943. It believed that there was a three- to four-year gap between the present and the time when any nart of the plan conld provide even a small margin over bare requirements. It believed that this gap could, and should, be filled by other means, and it had explored the means available. It would, as always, do its utmost to ensure continuity of supply, and to assist the Government in continuing supply, but it would accept no responsibility for a position which it had done its best to avert.