HYDRO ELECTRIC SCHEMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18206, 27 September 1922, Page 8

HYDRO ELECTRIC SCHEMES.

The Government is definitely committed to a policy of providing electric power for the North Island from three large stations at Arapuni, Waikaremoana and Mangahao. The statement to that effect made yesterday to a deputation by the Minister for Public Works is a reaffirmation of what has been previously decided and announced. It dates back to the comprehensive report made in 1918 by Mr. E. Parry, in which the arguments for and against were exhaustively traversed. Critics have sometimes compared the project unfavourably with a scheme including numerous smaller stations to cover the same area, but the experts of the Public Works Department continuously defend the policy which the Government adopted. The large station, it has been shown, means a smaller capital outlay than an equivalent number of small ones, greater efficiency in working, and a smaller trained personnel. If the Auckland district, for example, were to be covered by a seriea of stations

to supply approximately the same power as Arapuni, each would need a margin over the peak load from its area. A similar margin will be necessary at Arapuni, but since the period of peak load in different places varies, the margin at Arapuni need not be so great as the aggregate of the smaller stations. This means less plant than the sum of the other installations, and less capital outlay in the end. Small plants would tend to spring up at the centres of population, leaving sparsely settled areas between without supply; The transmission lines radiating from a great station can easily be tapped. to reticulate such tracts of country. All things considered, the case for the great scheme sounds convincing to the layman. In any case, the department has entered into solemn contracts on the understanding that its policy is to be pursued, and cannot now afford to listen to arguments on the other side. The whole subject has been thoroughly debated, and the course of action finally adopted. It is time, therefore, to accept what has been decided upon, and to cease urging upon the 1 Government a diversion of money and energy to local schemes which may seem especially attractive at the moment. The day for deputations arguing policy should now be ended.