SUPPLY OF POWER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19659, 10 June 1927, Page 12

SUPPLY OF POWER.

THE DELAY AT ARAPUNI. STEPS TO MEET SHORTAGE. AUXILIARY PLANT URGED. MINISTER PROMISES ASSISTANCE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON, Thursday. An assurance that tho Government would do its best to see that the power boards in the Auckland province would not run short of power pending the completion of tho Arapuni hydro-electric scheme was given by tho Minister of Public Works, Hon. K. S. Williams, at an important conference of power board representatives and departmental experts at Harnliton to-day. The Minister presided over an attendance of 50. Mr. Williams said that regarding tho supply of electric current in the Auckland province tho present position was not acute, but it was likely to be acute in tho near future owing to the unfortunate delay that had occurred in connection with the completion of the Arapuni contract. Ho wanted to take some responsibility for the expenditure that would bo involved in meeting the difficulty that was likely to arise. Ho hoped power boards would see their way to help tho Government, and he invited the co-operation of all boards in meeting the difficulty. Mr. F. T. M. Kissel, chief electrical engineer, said ik was anticipated that tho maximum load in tho province until the end of 1928 would not exceed 42,000 kilowatts and that thero was sufficient plant in tho district to meet any increased demand that might be made in the next 18 months. He explained that the power available in the district was 42.000 kilowatts, 38,000 of which could bo used continuously and 4000 for a limited period during the peak load. Plant in the District. There was additional plant availablo in the district which if put into operation, could increase tho current to 42,600 kilowats, .which he estimated would meet next winter's need. The plant included King's Wharf, 24,500 kilowats; Horo hora, 10,500; McLaren's Falls, 2200; Grand Junction, 2500; dairy factories, 1000; Rotorua Diesel, 150; Te Aroha and Thames, 100; Devonport, 300; Farmers' Fertiliser Company, 400. To put in an auxiliary plant would cost consumers £ls a kilowat for the extra power used as against £8 charged for the powpr now available. Speaking on behalf of the country power boards, Mr. J. T. Johnson, of Te Awamutu, said these boards were not prepared to pay any more for the provision of additional plant than they were now paying. It had always been understood that Horahora was peculiarly the property of South Auckland, and that its power should be used by the primary producers. He did not think that theso producers should pay toward the cost of providing Auckland city with power. Mr. Johnson asked whether it would not be practicable to link up the Waikaremoana scheme with the Waikato service in advance of the programme and so supplement tho Waikato service with an additional 20.000 kilowats. Tho Under-Secretary of the Public Works Department, Mr. F. W. Furkert, said the department had fulfilled its contract., but the growth of the demand had been so great that it had exceeded anticipations. It was thought the boards which wanted the extra power should contribute toward the cost of producing it. The growth of the demand was quite as great in the country as it was in tho city of Auckland, and if power boards did not want to extend their business they need pay nothing extra. Largo Demand for Power. Tho Minister said his department wanted to know what would be the bedrock increased demand for power next winter. With this information the department could ascertain exactly what it would cost to supply the additional current. lie would prefer to see extra plant installed rather than that the Waikato scheme should be linked up with the Waikaremoana scheme before the latter was ready. Mr. Furkert said the line between Waikaremoana and Waikato would cost £150,000. • Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, chairman of the Auckland Power Board, considered the figures supplied by Mr. Kissel were on the conservative side. The King's Wharf station was* running .at 24,700 kilowatts and it could not stand an overload like the hydro-station of Waikato, The natural annual increase in Auckland was over 4000 kilowats, while there were prospects of exceptionally large increases m the future. The City Council was putting on an additional 20 tramcars, while the Auckland Power Board had received a request for some 2000 kilo wats from the Railway Department for its Otahuhu works. The Auckland Board regarded the Horahora scheme as part and parcel of the Arapuni contract. Mr. Holdsworth said he considered the basis of Mr. Kissel's proposal fair and equitable. It would be fatal to checjf the demand for current at the present time. It was thought the • Government should put in the extra plant and charge each board in proportion to the oxtra power used, so as to enable the amount to be paid for ir« a few years. Members of the Auckland Power Board had visited Ara puni yesterday and had come to the conclusion that it was probable the extra supply would have to be provided for the winters of 1928 and 1929. Mr. J. W. Hayden, chairman of the Waitemata Power Board, approved of Mr. Kissel's suggestion. Ho said his board was urgently in need of extra power and for that reason he thought the department should proceed with the installation of auxiliary plant. Arapuni in Eighteen Months. Asked when Arapuni would bo ready, Mr. Furkert said he went into the matter with the contractors yesterday, and they said it would be ready in 18 months Personally, ho did not see any reason why power should not be available at Arapuni in considerably less time than that. The contractors said they could bring one unit into operation before waiting for the other. Arapuni should be ready by the end of 1928. Mr Hayden moved, and Mr. Kennings seconded, "That this conference approves of the necessity for the supply of auxiliary power by the Public Works Department to carry over until the completion of Arapuni." Mr. Furkert said the department contemplated meeting 50 per cent, of the cost of the extra plant, which he thought was very liberal treatment. Only those who used the extra power would be asked to contribute to the cost of the auxiliary plant. The motion was carried, with a few dissentients. Board members submitted requests for additional power totalling 3305 kilowats for next winter. Mr Kissel . said the department had sufficient power to meet the needs of the next 12 months, and Arapuni would be ready before the second winter. Tho Waikaremoana scheme was contracted to be completed by the end of 1928, and the present indications were that the work would be completed, well within that time. It was quite certain the line between Waikaremoana. and Waikato could bo completed before tho end of 1929. The Minister said he fully realised the needs of the power boards, and he was anxious to see that the boards were not left short of power. If there was any fear of Arapuni not being available, he assured the conference that the Government would do its best to see that anything that could be done to meet tho position would bo done. On his retnrn to Wellington he would lay the representations of tho boards before Cabinet, and do all he could to make provision against the possibility of a shortage.