THE FUTURE

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 41, 17 August 1917, Page 5

THE FUTURE

REVOLUTIONISED BY ELECTRICITY

POSSIBILITIES OF DEVELOPMENT

"WJien an electric service is laid on to every. house throughout the laud, the development of electric supply will be only commencing. In the cities the business will be shared with the gas companies, but the great future of elec--1 trie supply lies in the country districts— in the decentralisation of otir industries and the return of our people from the congestion of the cities to the healthier life and surroundings of the country." These were the concluding'words of the address on hydro-electric development in Canterbury, delivered hi the Concert Chamber of the Town Hal! last night by Mr. Lawrences Birks, B.Sc, M. Inst. C.E., Assistant Government Electrical Engineer. The lecture, which was given under the auspices of the City Council, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Industrial Association, was listened to by a- large audience, comprised mainly of business men and engineers, who manifestly were greatly interested in what was said in view of its bearing on the projected scheme for the North Island. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke, C.M.G.) presided, and in introducing the. lecturer said that the Dominion was on the eve of a period of peaceful and progressive development, in which hydro-electric power would play a great part. Mr. Birks at the outset outlined the history of the development scheme. A continuous service was commenced in March, 1915, and by March, 1917, had reached the full capacity of the installed plant, namely 4500 kilowatts. A fourth unit was then put in, giving a total iiir stalled capacity at the power house of 6000 kilowatts. A fifth unit of 5000 kilowatts is now on order, but owing to war conditions it has been found impossible to get delivery of the steel for building the necessary pipe line. For the first few months, the lighting load exceeded the power load. But as the larger factories have been converted to electric driving, the day load—B a.m. to 5 p.m.—now considerably exceeds the evening load. By means of charts, Mr. Birks showed how the hydro-electric energy used for general nower purposes maintained a much more even load throughout the day than in steam-generated schemes where lighting and tramways were the principal outlets for energy. This meant greater economy in production. In the City Council service the immediate effect of the introduction of hydro-electric power was a striking reduction in the council's retail and wholesale charges for electricity. The demand within the city had gone up from about 700 kilowatts to 2200 kilowatts, and is ."till increasing rapidly. 'In illustration of •he fact that electricity is the "poor "an's light," 1400 of the above consumrs, that is 33 per cent., pay less than 4s per month, and 1700, that is 40 per -ent., less than 5s per month. Other 'irge consumers were the Tramway Board, three large freezing works, five flour mills, five tanneries and fellmongeries, and the ■ whole of the dairies and butter factories within reach of the mains. The Tai Tapn Dairy Company had not only taken a supply for its butter fiictorv. biit had installed a complete reticulation throughout the area occiinlied by its milk suppliers. Six large hospital's and simitar institutions were m!so supplied. Mr. Birks explained, in regard to the charges, that the power had to be provided up to the peak load, and if it were used continuously the cost ■■/as no greater. COAL AND LABOUR SAVED. An important aspect of the subject .as the economy of coal used in Canserbiiry as the result of the Lake Cole■idgo scheme. This Mr. B.irks calculated it over 44,000 tons per annum, worth u75,000 delivered into the coal-bins or ;>IOO,OOO deliverer] into the boiler fires. The saving represented the labour of nearly 400 men, who were replaced by 60 to 80 men employed at Lake Coleridge and on the distributing work. The saving of petrol and kerosene had reduced our liability to foreign creditors by probably £10,000 a year. Moreover, hydvo-electric power was a step in the right direction. Hard, exhausting, unskilled labour underground was replaced by easy, clean, and scientific work in the mountains. The coal, of course, would not be wasted, but would bo used more scientifically. INDUSTRIAL POSSIBILITIES. One of the sources of Germany's strength had been her control of tho chemical industries. Hundreds of thousans of horse power of electricity, were used to manufacture soda, potash, 'a"cids, carbide, nitrates, explosives, and hundreds of other essential products. Lako Coleridge power had already enabled suplhato of iron, formerly imported by the gasworks for purifying the gas, to I be replaced by hydrate of iron produced) from the old tins from tho destructor. A further development of the same industry would yield a valuable iron oxide paint previously imported. Arrangements were being completed for the local manufacture of caustic soda, and hydrochloric acid by the electrolysis of common Bait by means of Lake Coleridge power. This again drew attention to the possibility of producing this essential raw material in New Zealand. Thu development of tho salt and caustic soda, industry was the first step in the production of the whole.. of the more valuable sodium salts, of which we import 5000 tons, worth over £100,000. Another industry in which Germany had made special advance is tlie electric smelting of steel, and in this hydroelectric power promised to give us in \ew Zealand an opportunity of which fall advantage must be taken. Already lefim'te proposals were in hand. At tho :"irasent prices 'of scrap steel and Lake Coleridge power it would be possible to smelt these cast steels at substantially leas than the pre-war cost. ELECTRICITY IN TRANSPORT. In railway transport New Zealand was still waiting, but in other countries maintenance costs had been cut down, more reliable services maintained, more frequent trains run, and great improvements made. These possibilities were all available in Canterbury as soon as industrial and financial conditions will permit of the necessary conversion being undertaken. In road transport even greater ■ changes were to come, by the substitution of the simple, cheap, and smooth-running electric car for the petrol car. APPLICATION TO THE HOME. But it was in domestic life that the widest sphere exists for effecting economy and increasing efficiency. The waste of fuel and the labour cost per ton in firing the ordinary domestic range is simply appalling. In addition to its ■direct heating value, electricity had almost unrealised possibilities in its application to domestic labour-saving machines. ■ COMFORT FOR THE' BACKBLOCKS. The Lake Coleridge scheme would be a financial success, and would supply cheaper light and power than any other source; but it would do more, than this. It would open up now industrial possibilities to Canterbury. It would give a strong stimulus to the effort to become more self-supporting and more independent of overseas shipping. But from the more important sociological aspect its future was still greater. Aa the lines extended'away into-the back ■ country, it

would make the home of the primary producer more attractive, and more comfortable. Then it would stimulate production. It would bring better health, physical, mental, and moral, to thousands of little ones whose struggling, overworked mothers now had all too little time to pay them more than the barest amount of attention.

On the conclusion of the lecture, Mr. E. Parry, Chief Electrical Engineer, who was present, was asked to speak. He emphasised the importance of hydroelectric power from the national efficiency point of view. In the limited area at present covered by the Lake Coleridge scheme, Mr. Birks had' estimated the saving at £40,000 to £50,000 a year. When the scheme was fully developed that saving would be at least trebled. Mr. Birks answered- a number of questions, and was then- heartily thanked for his address.

A motion was carried also, asking the Government to have the lecture printed and copies offered for sale.