BYDRO-ELECTRIC SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 48, 20 August 1917, Page 2

BYDRO-ELECTRIC SCHEME

TO THE EDITOR. _| Sir,—Representations from public bodies in Wellington, Manawatu, a,m£ Wairarapa, districts have approached UK 1 Government with regard to the early con| struction of the proposed hydro-elecmc ? scheme to serve these * districts, bu ■ Ministers in 'their replies to the deputa , tion, although they, expressed sympathy indicated that the work could not bi taken in hand till after the war. _ The Minister for Public Works in hi reply made a statement to the effect thai even if funds were allocated for prehminj ary works immediately, sufficient labou is not available. This statement by th Minister suggests that a large number o men are required ; but is this so/ lner is some three miles of tunnelling to b done at Mangahao, and tunnelling can not be hurried on by the employment o a large number of men, as only a verj limited number can be profitably employed in the working faces and the worl incidental thereto. If part of the worl . is delayed the day when cheap electnj power "will be available wdl be com* spondingly delayed because the tunnelnn and earthworks will take much longer « carry out than the supply and erection o the machinery, when the markets ar again open. . > From the point of view of nationaj economy, which is of paramount in\ portance, if electric energy is made avail able earlier by even 12 months the savj ■ ing of time is sufficient to justify thj Government in making some specia effort to set aside sufficient funds whei the Estimates are brought down. Mr. Parry, Chief Electrical Engineei undoubtedly the best authority on th - subject in New Zealand, when addressin the Agricultural Association a few weekago, told the meeting that the saving 3! the coal bill in a district to be servej by hydro-electric power would in four o ' rive years pay the whole cost of instalhi i tion, and in confirmation of this Ml Birks, his assistant, when reading | paoer before the Philosophical Society a Wellington a few days ago stated tha the saving in coal in Christchuroh anj neighbouring district through the intrtj duction of the Lake Coleridge power wa . already 40,000 tone per annum. Theis ■ figures give food for thought. | So far as Wellington is concerned fo ■ those who are responsible for the ruunj cipal electric supplies, and f.hose_ powq users who have under consideration e^ tensions to their plants, and others wh , wish to introduce new manufacturing , industries, the )>osition is most difficu! and demands the consideration of tK Government. |

It would be of great advantage at tlj present time if it was made known tli ■- the source of supply for this district h; been decided upon, and that the Goovi ment is committed to the completion the scheme by voting a suitable su for carrying out the preliminary worl Power users could then rest in peai, knowing that electric power will be avai; - able shortly after the wax. They wil knowing this, make arrangements on suflicient to carry them over the peri( of construction, and those who arc co sidering putting down manufacturii plants for the establishment of new indis - vries will be able to mature the plans.—l am, etc., WATTING POR POWER. .