NEW POWER HOUSE

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 50, 27 August 1920, Page 8

NEW POWER HOUSE

SUPPORTED BY COUNCILLOR NORWOOD.

Councillor O. B. Norwood was absent from the City Council when the question of a new .electrical power-house was under consideration, but at a publio meeting held at Ngaio in connection with the loan proposals, he stated his/ views. He assured the people that_ the very greatest consideration was given to the question, and, to his mind, there was no doubt but that there, should be a new power-house. He pointed out that the Christchurcb City Council had no station when the Lake Coleridge hydro-electric scheme came into operation, but the Tramway Board had an up-to-date plant. The board was then able to make terms with the. Government; which the council could not do. When the hydro-electric power was available in Wellington they Would have to have a stand-by station. /The Christchurch Tramway Board was allowed £1500 per year by the Government, its obligation being to keep the station ready in case of'emergency.. Because of the freezing works and other! essential industries there must be no break in the power supply. By keeping the stand-by plant for the Government the Ohristchurch Tramway Board had benefited considerably from the financial standpoint. The Wellington City Cour- ( cil could not at present supply all the power needed. Therefore it \va? necessary to,get tha new station going as soon, as possible. Discussing thr alternatives of extending the Harris-street plant, or erecting a new station at Evans' Bay, Councillor Norwood stated that the Bay scheme would pay interest. and sinking fund, on the extra cost, and then show a profit in Harris-street. It was well for the ratepayers generally to-bear in mind tho other point : If was useless to approve of tramway extensions and disapprove the scheme for increasing, power supply.