HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

Northern Advocate, 29 October 1932, Page 5

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

STATE UNDERTAKE':GS,

ARAPUXI INCIDENCE

MINISTERIAL SURVEY

(From Our Parliamentary Special.) WELLINGTON, Friday.

Expressing llie hope that tlit? pnbli<*«tion of filets anil figures would torn! to allay the alarm and confusion wliicli had boon associated with the Aiapnni hydro-electric undertaking, the acting-Miniatcr of Public Works, Air Macmillan, placed before the House last night an up-to-date catalogue of construetion and operating costs and the generating capacity of tin' work’s, ‘‘.Much criticism has been levelled ■it the Government because it installed hydro-electric plants,” said the Minister. “There lias been a great deal of confusion of thought, and (he belief has been held that the undertakings are expensive and extravagant. Of course, they are a good deal ahead of their time, but it would be far more expensive if we had to increase them as the demand expanded. Vn almost complete answer to those who say that the Government would have been better advised to instal steam plants is contained in the fact that quite recently, on the West Coast, where there is a coal generating plant at the pit’s month, the people have seen lit io put in hydro-generating plgnts.” Referring to the position at Arapnni, the Minister said that A T o. 1 unit was more or less out of action. There had been some difference of opinion in engineering circles as to whether it was out of balance, or whether the foundations were secure. Engineering opinion now tended to the view that it was out of balance. Ho was unable to say whether that was the ease <;r not. As far as the recent fracture of the headrace was concerned, there was no cause for alarm. If it wen l essential in the future for the engineers to relieve the pressure on. the surrounding country by making a diversion capable of taking ati extra volume o.f water, so that the pressure would be reliev-cd, the Department would still be in the position of having put in a plant that would generate 80,000 horse-power at a cost of £•‘l2.") per horse-power. “Cards on the Table.” • “The engineers of the Public Works Department,” said the Minister, “have nothing up their sleeves, and they place their cards face up on the table, but they do resent the prejudiced abatements made bv men who

are nor prepared to investigate the position properly. ”

The present capacity of Arapuni was 80,000 h.p., and the present load was 00,000 h.p. The cost, including interest during construction up to. March 31 last, was £32.5 per h.p. At its present capacity it supplied the whole of Auckland province, and if it were extended to its full and ultimate capacity of 100,000 h.p,, the estimated cost would be £21.2 per h.p. • Tiie average cost of all New Zealand plants, both fuel and water, was £30.7 per h.p.; Waipori (Dunedin), with 24,500 h.p., including steam and oil standbys, cost £37.1 per b.p.; Queenstown (Niagara), 533,000 b.p,, cost £20.7 per h.p., and Ontario (Niagara), 101,000 h.p., cost £28.1 per h.p. Paying Their Way. All the Government power schemes in operation up to March 31 last earned 7.28 per cent, over net operating expenses for the year, or, after allowing for depreciation, made a profit 0f£37,000. According to the latest returns tli<' electric supply system generally had paid interest and operating expenses and provided £042,267 in reserves, of which £150,010 already had been utilised by the Treasury for the redemption of the loans which formed the original capital. The Minister said ho hoped the facts and figures ho had given would prove to the people of New Zealand that they were getting benefit as the result of the courage and determination of'4hc officers of the Public Works Department to put the job through, and ho was satisfied that the nation had a valuable asset in Arapuni. He was satisfied the utmost care had been taken by the officers of the Department in selecting the site at Arapuni, and he invited members interested at any time to avail themselves nf the detailed information in the possession of the Department.