POWER FOR GREY

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 November 1923, Page 8

POWER FOR GREY

MR. DOOGAN EXPLAINS.

Questions regarding the introduction of electric power to the Grey district were answered by Mr. H. F. Doogan, Chairman of the Grey Electric Power Board, at the annual meeting of the Greymouth Ratepayers’ Association, which, like other members of the Greymouth Borough Council, he attended by invitation. He reviewed the history of the scheme, and also of the negotiations which led to the decision of the Board to have a report made on the Lake Hochstetter scheme in addition to the one already made on the Arnold River scheme, which had been sent forward for the approval of the Government. In any case, it was the intention of the Board to act quickly, and when the report on the Lake Hochstetter scheme was made available at the end of the present month either one of the two schemes under consideration —Lake Hochstetter or the Arnold River —would be immediately proceeded with. The Arnold River scheme was to cost £BO,OOO but they proposed to spend in the first three years only £50,000, and the construction of the scheme would be proceeded with in such a way that very little waste would occur. Whichever report was adopted the Board hoped that it would be able to put the proposal to the ratepayers in the second week in January. They had been assured by the engineer who reported on the Arnold River scheme that it would be possible to have electricity in Greymouth within 18 months after the date on which the contract was let. Allowing for all emergencies, therefore, they should have electric light in the town in two years’ time. (Applause). The Board did not propose to collect the rate it had struck recently. If collected, it would bring £ 1,200 but the Board had arranged to borrow from its bankers £BOO, which would keep it going for the first year until the loan ifioneys could be secured. It should be able to carry on with those until the scheme was self-supporting. He thought the Board had acted wisely in arranging to confer with the Minister of Public Works (Hon. J. G. Coates) and the Chief Electrical Engineer (Mr. Lawrence Birks) at the site of the proposed power house at Lake Arnold as this would help Mr. Birks very materially when he came to frame his report.

Mr. W. M. Richardson asked what was the deciding factor which led the Board to adopt a hydro scheme in preference to steam?

Mr. Doogan said that the steam plant would provide 750 k.w. at a cost of £6o,ooo—in round figures—and the annual amount of upkeep, with principal and interest would be £14,000, and the power house would be in Greymouth. The hydro scheme provided 1000 k.w. for £78,000 and the operating ; cost would be £lO,OOO a reduction of £4,000. It was recognised also that where water could be efficiently employed it was better to do so as water was running to waste whereas coal could be used for many purposes.

Mr. M. J. Phillips asked what effect the Introduction of electricity would have on the Municipal Gasworks. Mr. Doogan said that all he could state in reply to that was that in one place where electricity was introduced, Christchurch, the quantity of gas used had increased and electricity was increasing also. The amount of gas used was far and away above the quantity used at the time electricity was introduced, and still increasing. “Cheap power brings along . industries previously not thought of,” said Mr. Doogan, “or if they were thought/of they were impracticable owing to the high cost of fuel.” /

Replying to Mr. J. Saunders, Mr. Doogan said that if a loan were struck at any time it would be spread over the whole Power Board area, and as the capital value of the district was about the cost would not be a great burden to the ratepayers. >

Commenting on Mr. Doogan’s remarks, Cr. J. W. Greenslade said that the question was how would the scheme affect Greymouth? There were differences of opinion on the subject. Some people gave very solid reasons for their belief that it was going to have an adverse effect. If that were so, they 'would have to look the position in the face. He was interested in what the relations between the Board and the Council would be. Would the Board sell power to the Borough in bulk? No doubt Mr. Doogan had some such scheme in mind, and he did not think that the Board required profit. It could perhaps sell to the borough at cost price.