OFFICIALS MUZZLED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20596, 21 June 1930, Page 14

OFFICIALS MUZZLED.

COMPLETE BAN ENFORCED. NO INFORMATION OF ANY KIND. TUNNELLERS IDLE FOR TWO DAYS [BY TELEGRAPH OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON. Friday. "I am muzzled," frankly confessed a senior officer of the Public Works Department to-day, when asked for information regarding the position at Arapuni. When an effort was made to elicit particulars regarding the effects of the Arapuni emergency on the local power supply the inquirer was met with the statement that tho Minister's instruction that no information could bo given to the press was quito comprehensive. Another senior officer, who has been employed at Arapuni ever sinco the powerhouso was built, said ho did not know whero Arapuni was. Information was obtained from another source that the tunnellers employed 011 exploratory work below tho spillway weir had not been working for two days, although many of them were satisfied there was no danger in tho tunnel. No word could bo obtained as to whon tho work would be resumed. SUPPLIES OF POWER. THE CENTRAL BOARD, STEAM PLANT MAY BE USED.. [BY TELEGRAPH OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON, Friday. Tho Central Electric-Power Board owns a 500 li.p. direct current electricity generating steam plant at Huntly, which it acquired when it first reticulated tho Huntly town district some years ago. The board has tried to sell the plant, without success. Now that the Arapuni emergency has occurred the board is hard put to meet the needs of its consumers. It is possible that steps will be taken to convo-t tho Huntly steam plant to alternating current, and to add another boiler, and so supplement the power supply of the district. CURRENT AT CAMBRIDGE. LOCAL PLANT CONSIDERED. i n [Br TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. J CAMBRIDGE, Friday. The Cambridge Power Board to-day discussed the Arapuni stoppage, and its effect upon tho local supply. It was decided to write to the Public Works Department, asking that, in order that it may keep faith vrifh tho supply authorities and consumers generally, a public statement be made as to the future prospects. Further, as tho board is vitally concerned with what is to happen in the matter of supply in tho spring, tho board will request that an officer of the department bo sent up to inspect, with a view to spending a sufficient sum on tho Cambridge Dairy Company's steam plant, to mako for an economical supply of energy from this source. POWER FOR DAIRY FARMERS. SOME APPREHENSION FELT. [BY TELEORAPH- —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TE AWAMUTU. Friday. The Te Awamutu Power Board to-day appointed its chairman, Mr. J. T. Johnson, and the manager, Mr* D. McArthur, to attend the proposed conference of representatives of power boards in South Auckland, with a view to making representations to the Government to expedito the linking up of the _ Waikaremoana supply with the Arapuni lines. This linking was not considered so important at the present timo as the conservation of the availablo supplies for tho country boards' customers. Members were somewhat apprehensivo that in the endeavour to supply cities and towns tho industrial needs of the dairy industry would be unduly hampered. The hope was expressed that the fullest possible use would be made of the Horahora plant during the stoppago at Arapuni by renewing the part of the plant that was damaged by fire several months ago.