GAS v. ELECTRICITY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 25, 31 January 1911, Page 2

GAS v. ELECTRICITY.

HOSPITAL LIGHTING. ' TO THE EDITOB. Sir, — Maskelyne and Cook once held an unrivalled reputation for magic and mystery, but since the advent of tho local municipal turbine for generating electricity, its feats are so astounding and its nmgic so subtle, that henceforth legerdemain must be a dead art and the celebrated conjurers' occupation, gone. On 24th November, 1909 the turbinet wizard was set going. The then Mayor (Dr. Newman) said, inter alia : — "The new machine would greatly reduce the working- expenses of the station, and the Engineer estimates that when he y has sufhcie'nt turbine plant installed to enable the old engines to be dispensed I with, he will" be in a position to show I a saving of 40 per cent, in the generation expenses." This was a fair statement of the case, and one that would be generally respected without question by most engineers, i.e., that turbines would give a mechanical efficiency 40 per cent, better than reciprocating engines. On 22nd August, 1910 a detailed statement of the working of the Electric Light Department for the four months ending 31st July last was published. in The Post; this was after some eight months' experience with the new turbine. The results showed an economy of some 20 per cent in generating expenses, which were reduced from 1.87 d to 1.56 d per unit, compared with the same period for the previous year, the costs published at this date being as follow :—: — Generation expenses per unit sold 1.56 d j Distribution expenses per unit sold 0-40 d General expenses per unit 501 d... 0.48 d Tl. " working expenses per unit sold 2.44 d The total standing charges, interest, sinking fund, etc., for the same period were £5943, and the units sold for the four month's 767,823, equal to l.S5d, bringing the total cost up to 4.29 d per unit sold. Now, the wonderful magic is. how, since that report was issued, the selfsame turbine, a mechanical device designed for the purpose of economising fuel, water, etc., etc., has been able, not only to reduce the generation charges by a further 40 per cent., but has also been able to reduce salaries, distributing aud general expenses, standing charges, interest, sinking fund, etc., by some 40 per cent, also, and thus enable the corporation to sell current at 3d per mi it and make a profit on tho transaction, vide his Worship the Mayor, as reported on the 27th inst. Yet, strange and paradoxical as it may appear, the working expeases, as published on the 21st inst., bad been reduced from 2.92 dto 2.89 d per unit, whereas they stood at 2.44 d only per unit sold on the 31st Julj feist. Further, tha last report, on the 21st inst., states that there is a surplus of 2.55 d per unit sold. This, at an estimated output 'ef a minimum of som* two million units only for the year, should giv/e a profit o£ some £21,000 odd. Sur/ely^, with such a prospective surplus as this ths small consumer who now piVs 7d per unit has a just cause to ask for a reduction in the charge. — I am,, etc., ALBERT FORD. Wellington, 30th Jan., 1911.