N.Z. PUNS FOR HYDRO POWER GENERATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 September 1949, Page 5

N.Z. PUNS FOR HYDRO POWER GENERATION

WELLINGTON, This Day (P.A.).— New Zealand was becoming a more highly electrified country than the United States, Mr A. E. Davenport, general manager of the State Hydroelectric Department, told today’s combined conference of secretaries and engineers of New Zealand power boards and supply authorities. In the course of his address, Mr Davenport made the following announcements: Tenders for the supply of electrical and mechanical plant for Roxburgh, Otago, are to be called, probably this week. Work at Pukaki is proceeding at such a rate that extra water would be stored in the lake for next year’s generation. It is hoped to instal the first generating machine at Maraetai in 1951. The construction of the Whakamaru

station on the Waikato would be gone ahead with and tenders would be called shortly. During the next nine years the construction of transmission facilities and sub-stations would involve an expenditure of £20,000,000. “For the future we must avoid any additions of steam-power to the generating capacity of New Zealand, unless and until it is absolutely unavoidable,” said Mr Davenport. “It is a last resort, not a first.” This remark followed an explanation of the revenue sources of the department and the high cost of steam generation.