CRIPPLING INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18018, 17 February 1922, Page 6

CRIPPLING INDUSTRY.

(THE SHORTAGE OF POWER.

FACTORIES GOING S*OUTH.

NEW ENTERPRISES STOPPED.

LOSS TO THE COMMUNITY.

The letter of Mr. James A. Macneill, indicating how the industrial opansion of Auckland is being handicapped by lack of electric power, which wait published in the Herald yesterday, has received com-" plete endorsement in soveral well-informed quarters.

" There is no power available in the city to-day," said one man. " Many people have been under the impression that the expenditure of the £500,000 electric loan would meet the needs of industry, but from what can be gathered, in spite of the reticence of the city authorities, there now appears to bo a grave doubt if the power needs of the town will receivo much help. With tho cost of tho expenditure on suburban reticulation, coupled with that necessary for plant to generate power for increased tramway demands, many industrialists are afraid that expenditure of the loan will not bring much aid to industry. " There is not the slight doubt that Auckland has lost new industries owing to tho lack of power. For instanco, ono concern which was to Bave been started near Auckland has been established in the Waikato, where power is available, simply because neither the City Council nor any neighbouring plant could supply its wants. At present there is more than a possibility that a new industry which the promoters would prefer to start in Auckland, will be established in Christchurch, because power is available there. A now engineering establishment has been started in Auckland because of the exigencies of marketing, but in the absence of electric power it has had to obtain its own power plant" The speaker mentioned several other enterprises which had not vet readied fruition mainly because of the lack of power, and mentioned developments which had been made impossible for the same reason. It was a noticeable fact, be said, that very few large engineering contracts came to Auckland. Recently Ihincdin firms had obtained one or two large orders for the Mangahao scheme, the reason 6imply being thai Dunedin had plenty of power. Auckland was losing valuable business all along the line, and this would continue to be the case until the power problem w.is solved. The losing of this business was not felt only by the firms concerned. It affected the whole community, because it meant less employment and less money in circulation. Mr. F. M. Hills, president of the Auckland Industrial Association, stated that he knew definitely of one or two industrial enterprises which would ihave been started in Auckland but had gone to the South, where power could be obtained. He also knew of others which would start here if a small amount of power could he obtained for a beginning with the certainty of more being available when required. Established industries, including that with which he is connected, would install more motors if power could be got for them. The manager of Hardley's, Ltd., stated that his firm, which now uses some 60 horse-power, wanted up to 200 h.p. more for a lead-rolling mill, a lead pipe-making plant, and other machinery, but because the " juice " was not available the new works 'could, not bo opened. The best they could hope for was for 150 h.p. in about 12 months time, but for night running only for some time. " The industries of Auckland are being starved," be said, " and Arapuni should be tackled at any cost."