HYDRO ELECTRICITY

Evening Star, Issue 21823, 12 September 1934, Page 8

HYDRO ELECTRICITY

SIXTEEN YEARS’ PR&GRESS THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY CHEAP POWER TO THE PEOPLE [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 12. A conference of power boards was opened to-day. Mr J. A. Nash presided, and there were present the 'Prime Minister, the Minister of Public Works, and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr Forbes said that the Government bad invested £12,455,000 and local authorities £20,400,000 in hydroelectricity in sixteen years. An interesting thing was that business had been built up on sound lines and run most efficiently. We had passed through a period of depression in the last three years, and this had retarded progress, but business had not slipped back. He noticed reference on the order paper about reducing the rate. It always had been the intention of the Government to supply the people of the country at the lowest possible rate, without any intention of making profits above those required to meet depreciation and interest. After operating and making provision for these there remained £116,976, but there were debt accumulated losses of £576,000 they had to work off. He mentioned that the Waitaki would be coming in this year, and would show a loss until it could get into full use. Jf the scheme was a business in which it was able to show a profit over and above these things the policy of the Government would be to make reductions and give as cheap power as possible to the people. Mr Kitchener expressed the opinion that the strength of organisation would be in the way of larger power boards and supply authorities. He thought that there were too many boards, and that more co-operation among various authorities and districts would help to get further along the road than at present.