HYDRO-ELECTRICITY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 14 October 1926, Page 2

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY

PROPOSED POWER BOARD CttNF(BJRtJ-NOE OF LOCAL SOIMiES INITIAL STEPS TAKEN PROVISIONAL COMMITTEE SET UP The initial steps preparatory to setting up a power board for tlie Nelson district were taken to-day at a meeting of delegates representing interested local bodies. After a full discussion, it was resolved to set up a provisional committee to collect information as to the possibilities of n. hydro-electric, scheme. This does not mean'that a- power board will he formed: nil it indicates is that information will he. obtained and submitted to local bodies. Subsequent action will be left in the hands of local bodies or their delegates. The meeting was representative of the whole province. The Mayor of Nelson (Air W. Lock) presided.' and among those present, were Air lvissell, chief electrical engineer to the Public Works Department, and Air Toogood. consulting engineer to the Motueka Borough Council. The following delegates were present: . Nelson Citv Council: The Alavor (Air W. Lock), Crs.' S. A. Gibbs, W. C. Harley, W. J. Aloffatt. J. Wigzell, and E. R. Neale.

Waimea County Council: Crs. P. Best (chairman), J. Corder, T. Hewetson,, and G. Alacmahon. Richmond Borough Council : Crs. H. AV. Kelly and .1, Price. Motueka Borough Council: The Mayor (All- D. Talbot) and Crs. Smith, Wratt, and Air Heath (engineer). Murchison County Council: Air Fraser (clerk). Tahunanui Town Board: Alessrs Carter and Radford. Takaka County Council: Cr. Winter (chairman). Golden Bay Power Board : Alessrs F. W Faulkner and G. Marshall.

The Mayor, after extending a welcome to thg delegates, went on to explain that the conference had been called by the City Council at the request of the Alotueka Borough Council ami the Waimea County Council. Toe purpose of the meeting was to consider the question of forming a power board for tlie district, it was a matter Mat called for the most- careful consideration!. He gathered that the- chief reason for considering the question by those at whoso request the conference was called was lo obtain a good supply of electric energy for light and pi/wti for practically the whole district, and at a. cheaper price and at a less burden to the rates than at present being charged. The proposal was m obtain energy from a hydro-electric scheme. If a- scheme could be formulated hv which a good supply could be obtained at a reasonable rate it- would be of great advantage to the district and a great factor in its progress. It was a wellestablished fact that where the use of electricity had been introduced a new era of prosperity for tli e locality had <Set in and had beeu maintained. In saying this, however, it must not be forgotten that such results could not he obtained unless tlie current was supplied at so low a- price as to make it popular and available for all purposes bv the immunity generally. He had no doubt that Air Kissell, Chief Electrical Engineer, Public Works Department, would be able to corroborate this, and at the same time give definite information as to the opinion of the Government. in reference to a. hydro-electric scheme for this district. The Mayor went on to say that the view taken by the City Council in regard to a power hoard must not he regarded as hostile; hut so far as the. Council was concerned it considered the proposal premature and could not regard it as being in the interests of the city. The Council had been assured that their present plant was quite, sufficient for a number of years to come, and could at a. moderate cost, if need be, be, enlarged so as to double its capacity and meet all requirements for another 15 or 20 years. If it could be shown beyond all question, that by the establishment of a power hoard electricity could bo supplied much cheaper and more efficiently than at present, then, without committing himself or the Council, lie bad no doubt the matter would be carefully considered. The onus of furnishing this proof rested with those at whose instance the conference had been called, lie took it that- those representatives had come to the conference prepared with information of this character.

OFFER FROM CEMENT COMPANY

The Mayor then read a letter which lie had received from the works mariager of the Golden Bay Cement Company at larakohe to the effect that providing power was available by June, 1928. the company would guarantee a minimum demand of 1000 k.w. per annum at a price of £7 per k.w., with a guarantee that the payments would not fall below £7OOO per annum. Later, if additional power was required any extra load over 1000 k.w. would be paid for at the rate of £7 per k.w., and tlig company would he agreeable to make an agreement for 20 years on those terms. As the company was now considering installing more power, it was requested that information as to the possibility of the Lake Botoroa. scheme being proceeded with should he given as soon as possible. It was added that the requirements of the Takaka County' (excluding Puponga, Collingwood, and Bainham and surrounding districts) would be of a value of about £3OOO per annum.

ADMITTANCE OF CONSULTING ENGINEER

J he Mayor of Motueka said his Council desired the attendance of Mr Toogqod, who had been advising the Council, to he present in an advisory capacity, and participate in the discussion. The C'itv Council apparently objected to Mr Toogood's presence; hut lie hoped the meeting would allow him to enter into the discussion. He moved to this effect. Seconded bv (Y. Moffatt.

Cr. Gibbs pointed out that tin? chief electrical expert in New Zealand was present to advise the meeting; and he suggested t list I the motion should he deferred in the meantime.

Cr. Harley thought it strange that the chairman of the body instrumental in calling the conference bad not- been able to master tin* position sufficiently to place it before the. meeting. .Air Kissel! could give all the information desired. He strongly objected, on certain grounds, to Mr Toogood or any other consulting engineer, participating in the conference.

The motion was pul and carried on a show of hands. Mr Joogoud was then called into the room. The Mayor of Motueka, in putting the case for the formation of a Power Board, said there, was not the slightest doubt, that the whole world was calling out for cheaper power, and the only means of obtaining that- power was to harness the water power going to waste. T(. was (lie dut-v of the conference to arrive at some solution of the problem He was more concerned with the needs of

the settlers in the back blocks than tlie city people. He stressed the fact that the man on the land was the backbone of the country, and everything possible should be done to assist 1 lie country people. The problem was a domestic one. If tho meeting was not prepared to accept Mr Kissell’s advice and act on. it the sooner delegates got hack to their homes the 'hotter. He .sincerely bapnd. the MAyor of Nelson would push tlie matter of establishing a- -Power Boat'd. The delegates were only laymen, and information could only he obtained by investigation. Until a Rower Board was formed, nothing could ho done. Su far as .Motueka was concerned, it would he. prepared to hear its share of the cost of investigation and the setting up ot a Power Board.

FOR. MUTUAL ADVANTAGE

Cr. Corder endorsed the of the last speaker. If the city took a broad view c«f the matter and assisted tin* country districts, it would be lu their mutual advantage. The matter was worthy of the greatest consideration. On behalf of the. Golden Bay Power Board Mr Alarshall thought a scheme to cover the whole, would be to the. advantage of all. and would he the only hope of serving the districts beyond the Takaka Hills. Air Faulkner at the outset took the opportunity of contradicting a rumour that the Golden Bay Power Board had incurred a. debt of £IOOO and was practically defunct. As a matter of fact only a debt of £450 had been incurred, and, they had got £ for £ for everything so far done. Small power hoards were no use to the district. He said that settlers in the country districts must be assisted. He strongly urged that the larger scheme should he investigated, especially as the Government was, prepared to go on with it on certain conditions. In view of industrial troubles, a steam plant would not be advisable. Or. Kelly said that though he was willing to assist the bnckblocks he did not think his Borough should carry the backblocks on its back. He desired further information before lie would commit his Council to even setting up a committee.

Air Fraser suggested that All- Kissell should state the Government view- of tho Lake Rotoroa scheme Cr. Best said he. understood there were several schemes in view, and lu* would like Air Kissell to state which scheme lie proposed to discuss.

MR KISSELL SPEAKS

Air Kissell said he was present more to answer questions than to make an elaborate speech. The Governments policy he went on to say was that fundamentally it recognised the disabilities of the selllers and the buckblocks, but to overcome the difficulty was the trouble. The Government's idea was to give the whole country electricity on a cheap basis. The whole tiling was based on co-operation between town and country. The matter must be considered on a broad basis. To- evolve a power scheme which was going to serve tintowns without putting a burden on them and at the same time give country people cheap power was what tlie Government wished to do. He went on to explain the position between the Government and the power boards, as contained in the Power Boards Act (published in last night’s “Evening Mail"). There were several schemes in the Nelson district which had been investigated, and the decision arrived, at yiaa that the Cowan scheme was the. best. In tlie first stage, he thought 6000 k.w. would he sufficient, and more could be developed front the same source later. tie could not say definitely when this scheme would bet developed : that was a matter for the people of the district and Parliament. The Department had commitments in various parts of the country, and unless some very special reasons were shown, it was. improbable that a start co-uld he made on the Cowan scheme until 1928, as already stated. This was unfortunate in view of the Golden Bay Cement Company’s offer; and this raised the question of finding another scheme. The Government would need a guarantee of 1200 to 1400 k.w.’s before a start could be made; and tho question was whether there was any process by which this power could bo built up meantime. At the present the whole district did not use more than 525 k.w. He urged that perhaps tlie plants already in existence could, by co-operation, build up a sufficient load to develop water power, and thus justify the Government going on with a hydro scheme. The Government could supply, through power hoards, power at a price which would compare favourably with any fuel plant. It was true that any local bodies could carry oil quite well with their own plants, hut a power board devoted its whole time to the supply of power, and could thus perhaps, deal with it on a better commercial basis than a local body could. He went on to give figures showing how the power in the Ashburton district had increased since the establishment of a power board. In 1924 the maximum was 200 k.w.. in 1925 700, and in 1926 900. Other power boards had had similar experiences. It was selling power for industrial purposes that was the salvation of any scheme. Air Kissell went on to explain the procedure for the setting up of a power board (as outlined in yesterday’s “Mail”). He considered that the meeting should decided to set up a committee to gather information.

QUESTIONS

Tn reply to Mr Faulkner, Mr Kissell said the Government in any contract made with power boards made, a provision reserving the right to supply any large consumer direct. No doubt this would apply to a large consumer like the cement works. Mr Marshall asked if the scheme depended on Tarakohe, would the Government push on with the scheme sootier than 1923. The cement works intended to put in additional power plant, and when this was done, the company would not need power from a board. Air lxissoll said that even if the Department was authorised io go on with the work right away, it would still take 21, years before the power would lie available at Tarakohe.

Air Wrntt. asked if if was correct that if a hydro-power scheme was installed, the City Council steam plant would lie scrapped? Air Kissell replied that the plant would not be scrapped bill lie main lained as. a stand-by plant. If a power boa I'd was established it would not he. used to the same extent as now; hut in the meantime it might he economical to extend it.

In reply to Cr Gibbs, Mr Kissell said miller a. hydro-power scheme there were many incidental rates which were nearly all profit. As In a transmission line over Takaka Hills, he doubted if i( could be done economically if the current were supplied by steam from Nelson ; hut this might he- a. part of the main scheme mil perhaps the 'lakaka people would he prepared to pay something extra towards the cost [lending hydrn-olcclric power being available. Or Macmahon, as the, mover of the motion at- the previous conference approving of a hydro-electric scheme, ex pressed regret that a committee bail not been .formed to gather informatioi which could have been placed before the present conference. As oiie thoroughly conversant with the district, he sail we had the water power at- our bacli doors, and it- should be harnessed t< develop, among other things, the- in

dusiries of the province. He would very much like to see a committee appointed lo go a step further in the matter. In reply to Cr Price, Air Kissell reiterated that the Government had decided that I lie Gowan scheme was the best for the district.

In reply to* Or. Aloffatt, Air Kissell said ho had not yet seen the report on the Motueka scheme. Ha. would look it up when be returned lo Wellington. Rep!vitig lo a further question, Mr Kissell' isaid the Wanganui steam plant had been acquired T»y the power board, and used now for sonic, extent in cutting off the peak load. In reply to Cr Neale. Air Kissell said if I In* Government dealt direct with Hie Cement Works, ii would keep to its contract, and tlieother parts of the district would not suffer-*financially in the event of certain eventualities. A number of other questions were also answered by Air Kissell.

In reply lo Cr Harley, Air Kissell said lrvdro-srhemos would on past experiences lie self-supporting after five years.

PROVISION AI - COM MTTTBIFORMED

The .Mayor said the meeting was indebted to Mr Kissell for the information he had given. The question had been thoroughly discussed, and he asked if there was any motion to he moved.

Cr Alacmahon moved that a provisional committee he set up to go fully into (lie matter of forming a power board for the district.

Seconded by Cr. Wratt. ATr Fraser said liis instructions.wore to keep Murchison nut of any scheme owing to the fear of increased rates. The Richmond and Takaka, delegates were not prepared to commit their councils to any expenditure for the purpose of gathering information. ' Air Kissel suggested that the committee should be a. small one and gather details. After the committee find met, then the question of finance could he considered. If the local bodies w*m not interested enough to grant financial assistance, then it showed it was very necessary for some other body to go on with the proposal. The motion was carried without dissent.

Tt was further resolved, on the motion of Cr. Harley, seconded by Cr. Wratt, that the provisional committee consist of two representatives from the Nelson Citv Council and the Waimea County Council, and one each from other local bodies.

On the motion of AH Fraser a hearty -,nu* of thanks was passed to the Town r'lcvk Cor sending out such a comp*'*hensive statement covering the Power Boards Act.

On the motion of Cr Best, seconded by Cr. Gibbs, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Kissell for attending the conference. To answer lo Air Faulkner. Mr Kissell said he would recommend the Golden Bay Power Board to be represented on the committee.

Tho matter of expenses to he incurred in connection with preliminary expenses is to he settled at the first meeting of the committee. The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman.