DEMAND FOE POWER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18022, 22 February 1922, Page 8

DEMAND FOE POWER.

AUCKLAND'S REQUIREMENTS.

" STARVATION LINE RATION."

HANDICAP TO INDUSTRY.

One does not have to make gt very extensive inquiry in Auckland to realise what a crying need there is for more electric power. One authority made a rough estimate yesicrday that 5000 horse power could be absorbed almost immediately, but lie took no count of a possible demand for heating and cooking andi of the present over-load. The demand for power for domestic purposes must, . of course, be an unknown quantity. So far thers is practically no cooking by_ electricity in Auckland, but against this, the fact is quoted that in Taranaki, where people havo become more accustomed to tho use of eleotricity, a very considerable demand exists for electric stoves and the indications are that in this province tho kitchen will be no smaller user of current.

Leaving out of consideration any demand for domestic pfrposes, however, experts are-still vely chary about placing a limit Upon the needs of tho city. The requirements of industrial concerns can be estimated with somo degree of accuracy, but the purposes to which electricity can bo applied are & groat that there is no telling the extent of the demand from small users onco the powor is available. It has been a common experience in other countries for the estimated demand to bo ridiculously low. 'J.ho experience of the City of Buffalo, in the United States, may be taken as an instance. _ The city had depended upon a steam-driven plant, and when tho Niagara Falls wore harnessed it was thought tho steam plant would bo of no further use, but by the time the Niagara scheme had been completed the demand had so grown that it nad to be kept running as an auxiliary source of power. Present Stations at Maximum. Everyone knows that the present power stations in Auckland are carrying their maximum load, and that no further apnlications for power can bo entertained. The capacitv of the tramway s rati on is about 8000 norse power, and that of tho other is about 0500 horso power. The new station, which will not bo fully equipped fot about 18 months, will havfe a capacity of 17,000 horso power, but tho gain will be only 9000 horse power, seeing that it is the intention to scrap the tramway station. Part of this extra power will Be requircd_ for the tramways consequent upon the increase in rolling stock and tho extension of the system on the Great Sonth Road. Some of the new plant is now being installed, and it will be put into operation in sections, but it will bo 18 months before tho maximum power is being generated. A point not yet- made clear is how the city will faro under Power Board control. There are many business men who fear that part of thje increased power of the city plant nrv be used in some of tho outer areas.

Doubtless the position will be cleared up More long. The present object is to emphasise the fact that in every direction power-using concerns aro being hampered and handicapped by the shortage of current. The Herald has already stated that certain enterprises have boon lost to Auckland through this cause. Further inquiries show that existing concerns are surviving on a starvation-line ration.

Harbour Board's Great Demand. The Harbour Board is now using about 2000 h.p. I'or the Prince's Wharf it -will require 1500 h.p., besides 700 h.p. for 12 new cranes that are arriving. At present the board's demand is bo great that often tho power has to be switched oft one or two machines to allow others to work. Almost at random inquiry was made in various industries, and almost invariably lihe replies were, "We want more power." 'The Northern flourmills, which are now using steam, would use electricity up to 400 n.p, if it were available. Donaghy's rope and twine works, which now receives about 40 ih.p., is waiting for another 200 h.p, Hardleys, Ltd., require about 200 h.p. moro to enable them to start a lead rolling mill and lead pipe works. Fraser's foundry wants 70 h.p. extra, and even if. it were supplied steam power would still be used for the hammer. The Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company, which generates its own power by steam, uses 600 h.p. at the Southdown works and 600 h.p. at the wharf works. It has been in communication with the City Council on the subject of power supply, but as steam would be required in the works, even if electric power were used, necessitating the employment of firemen, etc., it could not use city power at the present price. At Horoiiu, power from Horahora was not payable. Probably tho game considerations would apply at the Westfield Freezing Company's works, where 500 or 600 h.p. is used, The Farmers' Fertiliser Company's works obtain the 500 h.p. required from a gas plant, but if power could be obtained at a price wnich would compare, it would be used. Other Potential Consumers. Messrs. Kempthorne and Prosaer, who know the advantage of electric power and are just completing largo manure works in Christchurch, are driving their Westfield plant on steam, but they would take 300 to 400 h.p. if electricity were available. ! R. and W. Hellaby, Ltd., at their Westfield works are using 300 'h.p. obtained from their own suction gas plant. They would switch over to electric power at any time. The firm also requires 200 h.p, for a modem refrigerating plant, which it proposes to establish l'n Quay Street in place of a cold storago store. • Messrs. Booth, Mac Donald and Co. have installed a 60 h.p. gas plant in their new works at Penrose, but the cost of electricity would have to bo very high indeed to prevent them taking the current as soon as it is availablo. These facts indicate to some extent Auckland's pressing need for power, yet in face of them it appears that the development of Arapuni, which would solve present difficulties and givo an impetus to industry, has been shelved.