POWER FROM ARAPUNI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18016, 15 February 1922, Page 8

POWER FROM ARAPUNI.

URGENCY OF CITY'S NEEDS,

FINANCIAL PROVISION.

SUGGESTED DISTRICT RATE.

The urgency of proceeding with tlio development of the Arapuni hydro-elec-tric Bcheme was strongly emphasised by tho executive of the Auckland Hydroelectric League yesterday. Tho president, Mr. S. J. Harbutt, presided. The secretary, Mr. J. Findlay, stated that no communication had been received from tho Primo Minister in reply to tho leaguo's protest of February 6.

Tho chairman remarked that whether the questions put to Mr. Massoy in tho league's telegram were too pertinent ho could not say. The questions were tho kind that wero probably too clear. Ho had noticed that Mr. Masscy had declared that the estimated consumption of power would not be adequate for Arapuni. He moved that the Prime Minister bo asked if this were the reason for tho Government's decision or if there wore other reasons; also that the Government bo reminded that tho league in desiring an answer to its questions was representative of local bodies, -industrialists, and the consumers generally. Tho motion was carried.

Regarding recent advocacy of the Hula Falls as a source of cheaper power than Arapuni, the chairman said the falls were further from Auckland than Arapuni and the route lay through 60 miles of difficult and unproductive country j that a railway would nave to be constructed for a distance of 56 miles from Rotorua; and that tho loss of power in conveying it tho extra distance would detract from its utility and increase the cost to the city. Mr. Harbutt emphasised the point that tho Arapuni scheme had been selected by Mr. Parry, the Government expert, from the engineering and economical points of view, and his recommendations were confirmed by the Government engineers, who had favoured the scheme as against all others.

Provision lor Extra Load. Mr. J. A. C. Allum said that Horahora, upon which the proviuco now had to depend, was fully takon up, and tho question was what was tho Government proposing to do to meet the extra load coming from Auckland and tho Waikato. Horahora would not meet these needs. The chairman said the Mayor's statement that £1,000,000 was invested in the city's steam-generating plant was somewhat misleading, as the plant cost £280,000, the balance being for reticulation and appliances connected therewith, all of whicn would be of use whether power was supplied by steam or a hydroelectric installation. He referred with approval to the canvass made in the Wellington Province to find what tho load would bo before tho Mangahao scheme waa started. Before a spade was put in tho requirements of tho whole province

were known. Mr. E. J. Darby, a taemfber of the Putaruru District Development Board, Bubraitted a schemo for financing the Arapuni project. It involved the striking of id rate over the Auckland Province and North Taranaki to produce £100,000 i, year. The ratable value of the Auckland I Province was £100,000,000. The Auck- ! land City Council was also to raise a £500,000 loan, to be exponded at the rate of £100,000 a year. Tho total sum thus obtained would bo £200,000 a year. In the fourth year tho rate would be Id; in the fifth year it would be increased to l{d. Power from tho works would be tho rate of £2 per horse-power per annum. If the running expenses amounted to 10s per horse-power por year, a profit of 30s per horse-power would be made per year. This profit would be utilised for replacement costs, and for installing further sets at the dam, each costing £80,000. The scheme, said Mr.- Darby, would greatly benefit the whole province. For instance, instead of a farmer having to pay, say, £30 a year for running a gas engine, for milking, he would have to pay only £6 for P° w cr amounting to three horse-powor. The speaker urged that the Arapuni question bo made an election issue. Transmission Line From Horahora. Mr. Allum asked for information as to what was being done to extend the transmission lino at Horahora, for the purpose of conveying surplus power to Auckland, ponding supply from Arapuni. The sum of £150,000 had already been voted for tho purpose, and the poles, ho understood, were lying on tho ground. It was decided to put the question to the Prime Minister. The chairman said ho feared that when the Auckland District Power Board was elected and came to take stock it would find the prosent position an impossible one, and he woidd not be surprised if it found it could do nothing but resign.