HANGAROA ELECTRIC-POWER LINE EXTENSION PROBLEMS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22728, 28 August 1948, Page 5

HANGAROA ELECTRIC-POWER LINE EXTENSION PROBLEMS

MATERIAL SUPPLIES CRITICAL

J)ELIVERIES of line-construction materials are still so uncertain that the commencement of major extensions cannot be undertaken at present, according to information given by the P.B. ElectricPower Board yesterday to a deputation of Hangaroa-Tiniroto settlers which waited upon the board and pressed the claim of their district for electrical service.

The Hangaroa-Tiniroto line has been under discussion since 1944, and the Rural Reticulation Council' has given an assurance of a subsidy on the cost. The subsidy rate is fixed on a scale which the board considers has no relation to the present inflated costs of construction. This is not the major point on which the Hangaroa-Tiniroto line is held up at present, however.

of high-tension poles required would ba about 1200. The pole supply was the key to the whole situation. Costs Climb Fast and Steep

The deputation was a strong one and was led by Mr. C. E! Matthews, who stated that their purpose was to secure from the board, if possible, an indication of when the line would be initiated. / Settlers’ Meeting in January, 1944 As far back as January, 1944, the settlers had called a meeting at which their desire for power service was clearly indicated. They had been informed by the chairman, secretary and engineer of the board of the difficulties of supply, but the settlers had been encouraged to think that it was not impossible. They had set up a committee to negotiate with the board, and had been informed later that the cost of the line would be £46,500, with annual charges amounting to £6600 odd.

The board had received an assurance of a subsidy from the Rural Reticulation Council. The settlers had been prepared to find £3300 in guarantees from existing residences, and they counted upon many other residences being built, including those in the biggest rehabilitation land settlement in the district.

The settlers claimed that they had done all that had been asked of them. They realised that the board had troubles in respect of material sudplies, but they believed that some portion of the materials needed for the Tiniroto line had come to hand. The line had been assured of priority over other major extensions but the delay had been so long that some of the guarantors lined up by the committee were now considering replacement of their present cooking facilities. When Will Line Be Started?

The chairman of the board, Mr. F. R. Ball, informed the deputation that the Wairarapa board had had a project to spend £42,000 in 1946, and the subsidy was £ISOO odd. The Wairarapa preserit-day cost of the work was £55,000, and the annual revenue required was £7OOO odd. The Wairarapa board estimated its losses at £2250 for the first 10 years and over £4OOO per annum thereafter. , The Wairarapa board was forced to advise the Rural Reticulation Council that it could not go on. “We have not decided to turn down the Hangaroa-Tiniroto line,” he continued. “We propose to go on with it, but the matter of material supplies and finance have to be considered. Our conditions and costs are comparable with those of Wairarapa, and the cost of the line would b t something over £60,000, as against the £46,000 at first estimated.” As an indication of : * the possibility of improved prospects, Mr. Ball stated that the Minister of Finance, Mr. W. Nash, had agreed to consider a reduction or abolition of sales tax on certain line-building materials. The Rural Reticulation Council was also considering factors in its subsidy policy. Consolidation in Town Area The board was at present consolidating its reticulation in the town area, the revenue from whicn was very necessary if the board was to bear losses on country extensions.

The deputation, while acknowledging the help received from the board in the past, now wished to know when the Hangaroa-Tiniroto line could be started.

Mr. R. C. Parker asked why a major extension had been possible in Hawke’s Bay and not in this district? Mr. P. W. Mossman asked whether a start could be made, even if the board could not guarantee unintei-rupted progress? He suggested that poles and other material might be dumped on the line to save double handlingMr. A. B. C. Steele mentioned that renewal of telephone lines in the area had been held up pending the establishment of the power service. The settlers would like to have some indication as to how long the delay might continue. At the request of the chairman, the engineer. Mr. F. Matthewson, reviewed the position of material supplies. He stated that before the guarantees came in the board agreed to order the materials required from overseas, including poles, copper, steel wire and insulators. The’ copper wire and insulators had come to hand, but steel wire and some of the transformers had not yet been received. The board had no advice as to where these latter were, but they hoped the shipments were on the way. There was no information as to where the steel wire was. or where it would be received. No Reserves of Foies in Hand

The Hangaroa-Tiniroto line was the priority job in the country area to which the board was committed, he assured the deputation, and no other country line would receive priority. Just when the Hangaroa-Tiniroto line could be undertaken, however, still remained to be decided bv th e board. Referring to Mr. R. C. Barker’s question, the managing-secretary, Mr. R. P. Baigent, stated that the Hawke’s Bay board was in the same position as the board here. Its stock position probably had been better than Poverty Bay’s. The allocation of space in the'only vessel which could deliver poles to Gisborne was in the hands of the Government, and Gisborne had received only 700 poles in a recent shipment, despite the fact that 2000 had been ready for shipment. Replying to Mr. Mossman, the chairman stated that it was probable that the construction of the line would be undertaken in sections. Priority Assurance Asked For Mr. Matthews asked if their line was assured of priority over any other major extension? Mr. Ball: I am assuming that, but it is for the board to decide. There is no other major scheme under serious consideration.

After further discussion, the deputation expressed its thanks to the board and retired.

The board then proceeded to discuss its policy on country line construction, in relation to the board’s finances and the need for reinforcing the service in the town and inner country areas.

Poles were in short supply, and though the orders had been placed long ago, shipment could not be arranged. In the past two years the board had received 1900 poles, in lots of 700 and 1200, the first of which had long been exhausted. A further . and bigger shipment was hoped for this month, but flooding in the Clarence River Valley had disrupted the shipping arrangements. The best hope at present was that a shipment would come in January or February. In stock the hoard had only nine to 12 months’ supply of poles for its normal requirements, and had no surplus for line extensions. If the new shipment arrived early next year, the board would stifl have not much more than its normal replacement requirements. Other boards were in the same position, said Mr. Matthewson, and he did not know by what further steps the board could expedite deliveries. In the past the board had been able to direct delivery and this gave the lowest-cost method of handling. If the board should be able to arrange for a shipment through Auckland or Wellington, the added cost would not be less than 26s per pole. For the 75 miles of the Tiniroto line the number

The problem was pointed up by a proposal that the board place an order for 1000yds of underground cable for the Childers road, Aberdeen road, and Waimata feeders. Both the managingsecretary and the engineer recommended the board to place the order, on the grounds that if supply in the areas mentioned was allowed to continue in the present state the board might find itself in a difficult position. Board Committed To Project “We have to look i after the town area,” said the chairman, in moving that the board authorise the expenditure. The motion was carried. When the chairman proposed that the board definitely approve the Tiniroto line as- a first priority work the only dissentient voice raised was that of Mr. T. Utting. who asked whether the board was well-advised to bind itself by any decision, in view of the fact that the line could not be erected for 18 months at least.

Mr. R. L. Gray moved in line with the chairman's suggestion, and Mr. A. A. Fraser seconded the motion, commenting that the board had already committed itself morally in the matter. Mr. Steele expressed the hope that the settlers would be informed soon of the ultimate costs involved. Mr. D. W. W. Williams asked if second priority could be given to the Tolaga Bay-Tokomaru Bay line. “We don’t know whether we can get a line up that way yet,” said the chairman. "The Hangaroa-Tiniroto people are much further ahead.” The motion was carried unanimouslft