ARAPUNI DELAY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 166, 13 June 1927, Page 5

ARAPUNI DELAY

MEETING THE SHORTAGE. MINISTER PROMISES ASSISTANCE HAMILTON, June 10. Hon. K. S. ‘Williams, Minister of Public Works, assured a conference here yesterday that the Government would do its best to give the power boards in the Auckland province a full supply, pending the completion of the Arapuni scheme. Mr T. M. Ivissel, chief electrical engineer, explained that the power available in the district was 42,000 k.w.. 38,000 of which could be used continuously and 4,000 for a limited period during peak loads. It was anticipated that the maximum load until the end of 1928 would not exceed 42 ? 000 k.w., and that there was sufficient plant in the district to meet the demands of the next 18 months, not providing, of course, for accidents. Mr Kissel said the present plant available in South Auckland was capable of generating 42,650 kilowatts. Tho plant included King’s Wharf, 24,500 k.w.; Hora Hora, 10,300; McLaren’s Falls, 2,200; Grand Junction, 2,500; dairy factories, 1,000; Rotorua Diesel, 150; To Arolia and Thames, 100: Devonoort, 300; Farmers’ Fertiliser Co., 400. COUNTRY BOARDS. Mr J. T. Johnson, chairman of the Te Awamutu Power Board, said he would have liked to have heard a fuller statement from the department of how it proposed to meet the increased expenditure which the Government had got itself into . through letting contracts which it intended and expected to fulfil, but was unable to do so. The country power boards would not help. Mr Furket, engineer-in-chief of the Public Works said that the Government had fulfilled its contract. The power boards wanted this extra power just as much as the Government wanted to sell it, and if extra expense were to be incurred to got it the department thought the people who wanted it should assist in paying for it. 'The Minister said it was the ultimate intention of the Government to link up Arapuni with Waikaremoana, but he would prefer to seo additional plant installed than to "link up the two stations at the present time. Mr Holdswortli said that they were all in the same fix and should pull together to get out of it. It would be extremely dangerous for his board to run too closely to the wind. AUXILIARY PLANT. The Minister said that if there had not been the rapidly increased demand the department could have carried on with its present plant. Mr Dean said that as provision was suggested for 5,000 k.w. of the extra supply for Auckland, as against 1,000 k.w. for the balance of the area. Auckland should pay five-sixths of the cost. Mr Furkert said that was exactly what was proposed. Tho charge would be according to the extra power used. Mr Kissel said the extra average cost on the calculated Auckland supply would be £9 3s Gd, whereas the Auckland Board would probably get at least £3O per k.w. Mr Hayden moved, and Mr Kennings seconded: —“That this conference approves of tho purchase of auxiliary plant by the Publm Works Department to carry over until the completion of Arapuni.” Mr Furkert said the Government had anticipated , paying a little under 50 per cent, in the writing off when tho plant went out of use. MR HOLDS WORTH NOT SANGUINE. Mr Kissel said that Arapuni would be finished by next winter. Mr Holdswortli: I would like tc think so. (Laughter.) The motion was carried. The following estimated increases during the coming year were given by tho various delegates: Auckland, 1000 k.w.; Central, 300; Franklin, 250; Bay of Plenty (initial), 575; Waitomo, nil; Te Awamutu, 100; Thames Valley, GOO; Rotorua, 60; Cambridge, 30; Hamilton, 100. Mr Furkert said that, as the total estimated extra requirements fell short of the Government’s expectations by 2000 k.w., he did not think there would bo any necessity for any additional plant. (Laughter.) Mr Holdswortli made a strong appeal against merely “waiting to see,” and urged the department to make perfectly sure that there would be no hold-up in supply. Tho Minister said he fully realised the importance of tho point stressed by Mr Holdswortli.