Power Shortage Problem in Christchurch

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 153, 1 July 1938, Page 9

Power Shortage Problem in Christchurch

MENACE TO SEWERAGE SYSTEM Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. Efforts to arrange for an adequate 1 supply of electric power for its pump- • ing stations in the event of the failure ; of the usual supply are to be made by ; the Christchurch Drainage Board. Re- - porting to a meeting of the board the : engineer (Mr. Cullens) said that if the > recent failure at Lake Coleridge had lasted much longer the city’s sewerage > system would have been “in a dreadful 1 mess.” The board instructed Mr. Cullens to • arrange a conference with the Municipal Electricity Department’s engineer and the engineers of the Christchurch City Council and Christchurch Tramway f Board to discuss methods of ensuring an I adequate supply of power in emergencies. Refercvice to the recent failure at Lake Coleridge was made in the report presented to the board by Mr. Cullens. The chairman (Mr. E. H. S. Hamit ton): Has this board any right of prior ity in the use of power?” “There is no definite arrangement/ replied Mr. Cullens. Mr. Hamilton: We have had a warn ing. What do you suggest we should do? Mr. J. W. Beanland remarked that when the new power contract had been 'made by the city with the Publie Works I Department there was a stipulation 'made by the Public Works Department that the city should not have an cmer- ' gency plant. It had been a very grave mistake, he added, for the Public Works Department to shift its standby plant from Lyttelton to the West Coast. That had not been realised when the plant was being moved, but it was now clear that a mistake had been made. It was ! imperative that the board should have the first claim on the power, j On his motion it was decided to ap- ’ prove Mr. Cullen’s suggestion for a conference.