WAIPORI POWER.

Evening Star, Issue 15076, 7 January 1913, Page 6

WAIPORI POWER.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir.—Yonv correspondent “ Ratepayer ” in last night's issue refem to a petition that he has been asked to sign “objecting to ihe City Council entering into an agreement with the Port Chalmers Borough Council to supply them with electric power and energy until such times as it is proven that there is sufficient to supply all local requirements,” etc. If such a petition is being circulated it seems to me that the promoters are lacking in their duty to the public in not ascertaining the facts, which aro as follows The Electrical Department is at present generating 3.C00 horsepower ; by the end of this month 1,000 additional h.p. ■null bo available, increasing the efficiency of ,tho plant by 33 3 per cent. ; by the end of April a- further 2,000 h.p. will bo available, making a total of 6,000 h.p., or doubling the present efficiency, in addition to which about the same time the .stand-by plant of 1,250 h.p. should lie available. As the Port Chalmers transmission Una will not be ready until July, at the earliest, it will easily be seen that the City Council have already taken • steps to provide for there being ample power for both the Dunedin and Port Chalmers consumer.*. P.o the statement made by “ Citizen ” in the same issue, “that the City Council will, at, their nest meeting, he called on to decide whether they will sanction the expending of some £6.000 nr more on an electric transmission line to Port Chalmers," it is a pity that “Citizen” does not trouble to verify his statements. If he strove to do so he would find that the matter was dealt with by the City Council at their meeting on October 15, subject to the Port Chalmers Borough completing the agreement, so it can only come up again at the City Council meeting on a motion to rescind the previous resolution.—l am. etc.. Jame? J. Marlow, Chairman E.P. and L. Committee. January 7.