LAKE COLERIDGE

Evening Star, Issue 20585, 10 September 1930, Page 3

LAKE COLERIDGE

GRAVE APPREHENSION FELT IH CITY [Spbcial to in ' Star.’] CHRISTCHURCH, September 9. The extremely critical state of the Lake Coleridge electric power supply has brought the, city face to face with the possibility of a situation that would prove calamitous to many industries. The few _ stand-by plants available are totally inadequate to copo with u crisis. During the past few years many_ of the stand-by plants and alternative sources of power supply that wore maintained by local bodies and manufacturers have been scrapped. At the present time virtually the only efficient plants that exist in tho city are those owned by tho Tramway Board, tho three newspaper offices, and the picture theatres. The capacity of these plants is not sufficient to relievo tho general situation in the event of a drastic rationing of power from Lake Coleridge. It is considered probable that unless tho situation improves this week compulsory measures for reducing the demands for power will be instituted. In the event of the present critical position resulting in a dislocation of industry tho emergency could not be fully met by the Christchurch Gas Company. That was the substance of a statement made by the management of tho gas company this afternoon. Contrary to popular opinion, tho company regards tho problem with grave concern. It was explained By tho officials that there was no jubilation in their ranks because a competitor was 111 danger of beihg crippled. On the other hand, they felt that complete failure at Lake Coleridge would result m a serious blow to their business., _ The shutting down of tho largo factories in tho city owing to power failure would result in a, restriction of the company’s sales, for while electricity was required to supply motive power for machinery gas was required for heating .purposes.