Little Hope for Power Extensions In South Westland

Grey River Argus, 20 March 1947, Page 2

Little Hope for Power Extensions In South Westland

Replying to- questions regarding the possibility of providing electric power reticulation in the ' rural areas of South Westland, Mr A. E. Davenport, representing the chief engineer, State Hydro-electric Department (Mr F. T. M. Kissell), held out little hope of the area being connected with the main power lines in the near future, at yesterday’s meeting of Westland and Buller local body representatives, when the Minister of Works (Hon. R. Semple) outlined the 10year plan for the West Coast. Mi Davenport stated that it would be uneconomic from a national point of view for the area to be connected to a main power supply. The Borough of Ross, however, was included in a power board district, and all that, prevented it from being reticulated was domestic differences. “Further south, the load is inadequate to warrant, an extension, and does not come within the range of economic supply,” he said. The department could not, at this juncture, consider installing small stations for purely local needs.

Referring to the present power shortages in New Zealand, Mr Davenport. sai that electricity was no longer an amenity, but a necessity. At the present time, New Zealand was faced with an annual power shortage of 45,000 killowats. At this stage it would be impossible to divert ,men and materials' to smaller jobs. It was a case of working for the greatest good of the community as a whole.