HYDRO-ELECTRIC ENERGY

Evening Star, Issue 16779, 6 July 1918, Page 2

HYDRO-ELECTRIC ENERGY

1 hS OTAOO DEPUTATION. Sir William FT.tser, Minister of Public Works, was waited on ve-sVi'ci.iy .iftsrnoon by a deputation from thu Otogo Expansion League in reference to the Government's scheme of hvdro electric develop ment as it aff-sets trie province. Mr l". K. Sidey, M.P., introduced the deputation. Mr J. Loudon, the chief >ipok<-\man, said tint the Hydro-electric Cummit/u-e of the Expansion iyeague hed recdvja thu Minister's tetter of May 20. tr. which he said a comprehensive scrum** of hvdiotdectric devdopn*e.nt was beiny considered by th-e Government. Th-ey w<?ie pleased to get tho letter a.n<l ths assurance that the matter would bt> dealt with soon. The Minister« Now, I did not cay "soon." 1 Mr Loudon said that the matter should net be delayed any longer thai: po.ssibl-3. A strong committee of the ieauue fiad boon set up to deal with it. The scheme most favored was that of Hawfi and Wanaka It was proposfd to circularise every local body throughout tlio province, askinrr them to approximately state tire quantity of power required for each district. ■ Thev hoped by that means to get sonu-thinp definite t<i lav before the Government. Th y had also prepared a radio map, showing the districts to be served, and had had sketches made of the trausrnis-ioii lines and the sub-stations necessary to carry out such a scheme. Tho coinmitute's idea was that the Government i-nouid undertake the generation of electricity and deliver it at the various points set out. After that the local authorities might take a certain quantity at a flat rate per annu-n, and make the distribution. They felt that such a scheme was of vital 'importance to the province, and should not be delayed a moment longer than possible. T"hev all knew that Otajro was teeming with m'.ncial wealth, and a supply of electrical eiieitry would mean a tremendous development in that direction. Then, ajjpin, the fr-dt. agricultural, and other industries would be greatly benefited by such, energy. Further, there was no reason why the railway from Cromwell to Hawea or Pembroke should not bo operated electrically. Tt would be cheaper than tha ordinary railvvav system, and would he. quite effective for the purposes for which it was required.

Mr P. K. Sarerood said they were satisfied that the -possibilities of a hydro-clee-trie scheme were enormous. The question of distribution was a big one, and was having the committee's careful consideration, '.they hoped that in conjunction with the Government's scheme they would he able tn irnide mib'.ie oninion in Otniro. Which scheme would be the best one had yet to he decided. Ho was s.nti--fied that, the cost of electrification should not bo a serious set-back to their aspirations. The revenue derived from the use of tl,-> power would more than pay for the interest and the genera] outlay. The Minister: Do I ur.i'h'sMn 1 the league intend to initiate a seh'uno lor the water down from Lake Wainkn or do they want the Government to do it?

Mi- London said they understood that the Government had under consideration a comprehensive scheme for electrification thvouiihout the I)oinin:on. If the (government would not do it, then he look it that Of.'HJo would embark '.:pon such a scheme.

The Minister said Mr Parrv (chief electrical eiTjineer) hid assured him that be was looking into the whoie question, but if the deputation meant that he (should reme here and evolve, a senem-' '-. it Ot:ipn fit once, then he (thy- Minis-ev', nnjiht tell them there was not a hope of that taking place. Tt could not be clone just now. After Like Coleridfra it wa- deoid-H that Wellington and Auckland .should be ilie next two place*. What Cabinet mijiht 'decide he conk! not sav, but he thought that at the earliest opportunity practicable somc'thinc should be -lone. Other pi- ces wore ■>--kiivj for the. same tiling. Napi-ef

ao-c! Gi-sborne had been un'i"t_' him to ••■\;\t\ work there, but he had fob! them that it could not he comnien? h\ until the Mai was over. Money for sm hj a wojk could not lie obtained until after tk" v. ar, in irher could labor nor mate/nil be obtained. The ontv monev that would be amiable until the war was ended would be that le.f* over after they h:id piovidcd for the war. vhie-h. of course, must come first. Tn the, face of that, what was the use c<f (xpettinpr the Government to devote 'coney for a hvdro-eleotnc enerjy scheme? Tie aguvd that everything possible should he done to find out the pi'aeticabilitv of the scheme. To make surveys, to decide, where the head works should be, and to ascertain the. amount of power available, would not cc.sv, very much. Survevs wove beinir made hi tlie' Weltitmlon ami Auckland districts. Lai, v Mr Parry would be able to devote his attention to other pbnov, and llta-.'o had a,s much ri;:ht to Inive his services as

any oilier pbtoe in the Dominion. Cabinet r vdiscd the import'iiice of thin work its much as the depot 'iiion did. He would lik to re every pmt of the, Dominion supplied with electric;) 1 power, :viv\ hj" eonhi r.Ksnre then) that in 'the ueriern! pn/inivntion of the scheni" for the Dominion Otnuo would not be ieft out in he cold.