VALUABLE ASSET

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 103, 28 October 1932, Page 8

VALUABLE ASSET

WORKS AT ARAPTJNI

SOME FACTS AND FIGURES

Expressing the hope that publication of the facts and figures would tend to allay the alarm and confusion which had been associated with the Arapuni hydro-electric undertaking, the ActingMinister of Public Works (the Hon. C. E. Maemillan) placed before the House of Representatives last night some interesting facts in connection with hydro-electric works generally. "Much criticism," aaid the Minister, "has been levelled /at the Government because, it installed hydro-electric plants. There has been a great deal of confusion of thought and the' belief has been held that the undertakings are expensive and extravagant. Of course, they aTe a good deal. ahead of their time, but it would be far more expensive if we had to increase them as the demand expanded. An almost complete answer to those who say that the Government would have been better advised to instal steam plants is contained in the fact that quite recently on the West. Coast, where there is a coal generating plant at the pit's mouth, the people have seen fit to put in hydrogenerating plants." Referring to the position, at Arapuni, the Minister said that No. 1 unit was more or less out of action. There had been some difference of opinion in engineering circles as to whether it was out of balance or as to whether the foundations were secure. Engineering opinion now tended to the view that it was out of balance. He was unable to say whether that was the caae or not. FRACTURED HEADRACE. As far as the recent fractured headrace was concerned, there was no cause for alarm. If it were essential in the future for the engineers to relieve the pressure on the surrounding country by making the diversion capable of taking an extra volume of water so that the pressure would be relieved, the Department would still be"in the position of having to put in a plant that would generate 80,000 horse-power at a cost of £32.5 per horse-power.; "The engineers of the Public Works Department," said the Minister, "have nothing up their sleeves and place their cards face up on the table, but they do resent prejudiced statements made by men who are not prepared to investigate the position properly." The Minister said that the present capacity of Arapuni was 80,000 horsepower, the present load being 60,000 horse-power. The cost, including interest during construction, up to 31st March last, was £.32.5 per horse-power. At its present capacity, it supplied the whole of the Auckland province and ifit were extended to its full afid ultimate capacity of 160,000-horse-power, 'the estimated cost would be £21.2 per. horsepower. The average of all jSTew Zealand I plants, both fuel and water, was £39.7 per horse-power. Waipori (Dunedin), 24,500 horse-power, including steam and oil standbys, cost £37.1 per horsepower. Queenstown (Niagara), 533,000 horse-poweri cost £29.7 per horse-power, and Ontario (Niagara) 161,000 horsepower, cost £28.1 per horse-power. PROFIT OF £37,000. All Government power schemes in operation up to 31st March last earned 7.28 per..cent, over net operating expenses for the, year or after allowing for depreciation, made a profit of £37,000. According, to the latest returns, the electric supply system generally had paid interest and operating expenses and provided £. 642,267 in reserves, of which. £159,910 had already been utilised by the Treasury for the redemption of loans which formed the original capital. The Minister said he hoped the facts and figures he had given would prove to the people of New Zealand that they were getting "a benefit as the result of the and determination of the officers of the Public Works Department to put the job through, and he was satisfied that the nation had a valuable asset in Arapuni. He was satisfied that the utmost care had been taken by the officers of the Department in selecting tho site at Arapuni.