Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5. 1929 A BIG ELECTRIC SCHEME

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 5 December 1929, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5. 1929 A BIG ELECTRIC SCHEME

THE Shannon Electric Scheme is a national enterprise and financed by tho Government of tho Irish Free State, the first of such great Irish undertakings which aim at supplanting private enterprise by national enterprise. It was initiated six years ago with a twofold' object—the elimination of the importation of coal from England for the generation of electricity, and the electrification of the whole of the Irish Free State. The estimated cost is nearly six million pounds sterling, with an additional two millions sterling fur distribution of current. The scene of the works is Ard-; uacrusha, c• 11 the Shannon, above Limelick, and the contract, carried out by two German linns-the cue for constructional work ami the other for electrical— Is nearing completion. Current was first

passed on Glh October, and it is expected [hat before Christmas the power-station ut Ardnaeiiislia will be in full operation. In order to Facilitate the operations of I his national enterprise, the Electricity Aft which bmught it into being provided for the compulsory acquisition of the ex-I'-lin" nc/ipal electrical plants, actuated by means of coal, and the Shannon ■'.!: i l.i. iiy Hoard has used its powers in respect of many such plants, the more readily because ii is not required by the Act to give compensation to the municipalities affected. But of course it was

expected that compensation would be paid indirectly to .such municipalities by Hie supply of cheap current which would be derived from the Shannon. l''or instance, it was estimated by Continental experts, called in by Hie Free Stale Oovernntenl, that ctnrenl would be supplied to Dublin, one bundled and twenty miles from the- Ardnaerusha power station, at a Hat rate of Id per unit, and certainly at not more than 2d per unit. To-day Irish experts, even though they aro enthusiastic supporters of the scheme, modify this prediction considerably, which they think unlikely to be fulfilled.

It is not expected that the Irish people as a whole will be converted suddenly to tho use of electricity, at any rate outside of the municipalities. Even whore electricity has been available at a cheap rate in towns, there has been a decided tendency for people to prefer the use of gas and oil-lamps, while in the country districts it is expected that at first the Shannon Electricity Board will have but few patrons, the more especially as it is doubtful if the Board will be able to supply current as cheaply as the municipal works which it is supplanting. Take Ihe case of Dublin, for instance. Consumers there expect that the current from the Shannon will cost more than that which they have had for years from the local coal-driven plant, which has proved both cheap and efficient. Moreover, the local gas company, whose sales last year increased by 8 per cent., is preparing to meet competition from the Shannon by increasing its efficiency and lowering its charges. The Government, on the other hand, proposes to create per medium of the Electricity Board, what it terms an "electrical conscience" in Southern Ireland, with a view to promoting the consumption of current from the national works at the Shannon. And there is much to be said for such action, since the use by the people of electricity produced by their own works in lieu of imported coal for which large sums aro sent out of the country, would seem to conform strictly with the principles of political economy. Nevertheless, not a few engineers are doubtful of the Shannon electrical scheme's success. They remark upon the sluggish nature of the river, which at times is unable to pass its waters to the sea without flooding. 'I hey argue that the loss of current carried by overhead transmission from the works to Dublin (120 miles) will be excessive. They declare that the prospective demand for current is so uncertain, that it is doubtful if tho enterprise will 1 pay interest on the large amount of capital invested in this national undertak- ; ing. The Government, on the other hand, declares that the creation of the Shannon works is amply justified, even if they do not pay for quite a long time, since, when advantage is fully taken of the facilities they will supply, the tendency will be to raise the standard of living, to improve the lot of the people, and especially to lighten the domestic work of Irish womenfolk generally. And in this view of the matter we believe that Mr Cosgrave and his colleagues are correct.