HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16344, 26 September 1916, Page 9

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

NORTH ISLAND SCHEMES.

TWO PLANTS PROBABLE.

VIEWS OF MINISTER

"I thought at one time that it would be possible to have one central place for the development of hydro-electric power on the North Island, but there will be two at any rate," remarked the Hon. W. Fraser, Minister for Public Works, to a representative of the Herald yesterday, adding that, of course, one of the sources would most likely be from the Waikato for Auckland and district.

Asked where the other centre would be, Mr. Fraser replied that there was nothing definite as yetprobably not far from Palmerston North—but he could say that' it would be in the southern part of the! North Island, and that together with the Waikato scheme surveys were now being] made with a view to selecting the most suitable spot. The two schemes would be considered together before coming to any definite decision with regard to either. Some day, of course, the two plants might be linked up. Preparing to go Ahead. "To start schemes of this kind," Mr. Fraser continued, " you cannot in these times borrow thousands of pounds. Our idea is to have everything in perfect readiness so that when' the opportunity pre sents itself to obtain the necessary funds we will be able to go ahead. Then, of course, the whole thing has to be submitted to Parliament and a Bill passed. The entire matter is being gone into carefully and seriously, and we recognise the success which has attended the Lake Coleridge enterprise at Christchuwh, I am convinced of this—that power can be supplied in the North Island at a rate which will commend itself to the people. The power, for instance, can be developed cheaper here than in Wellington owing to the difference in the price of coal." A Large Expenditure. Mr. Fraser emphasised that the surveyors had nearly finished the first part of the work they bad in band in the Waikato district, 'and that he had instructed Mr. Parry, the chief electrical engineer for the Public Works Department, to take a survey of a transmission line to Auckland in the event, of the Waikato scheme being chosen. Tho question of supplying electrical power for Auckland was a large one, and would prnbablv entail an expenditure of from £200,000 to £300,000. Mr. Fraser expressed the view regarding the Wairua Falls concession that it was given to the Dominion Portland Cement Company because it was unsuitable for a general scheme to simply power to the Northern Peninsula. The supply of power from the falls was s~. variable, varying from 10,000 horse-power at some seasons to 500 '>'- others, while nt tides it was a'nwt a negligible quantity. If th lower bad been suitable for public purposes it would never have been handed over to a private company. Tho Government would have taken good care of that.