SUPPLIES IN WAIKATO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20597, 23 June 1930, Page 10

SUPPLIES IN WAIKATO.

POWER BOARD'S CONCERN. ABSENCE OF INFORMATION. UNABLE TO FORMULATE POLICY. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON, Sunday. The following statement was issued yesterday on behalf of the Central ElectricPowei Board, Hamilton:— In common with all other supply authorities in the Auckland province, tho trouble at Arapuni is causing grave concern to the Central Electric-Power Board. The only intimation received from the Public Works Department up to date is that the amount of power available is to be reduced by one-seventh, and that whereas the maximum demand for the week ending May 25 was 816 kw. at Ruakura substation and 636 kw. at the Huntly substation, the allocation would be 700kw. and 550 kw. respectively. Owing to absence of information as to how long this allocation is likely to continue, the board has not been able to formulate any policy for future working. In the meantime it has issued a request to its consumers to' restrict their demands as much as possible. In order to keep faith with those who have already definitely arranged for supply, their installations will be connected np as completed, but in the meantime new applications are being held up as much as possible until the position has been defined by tho department. With regard to the possible shortage of power when tho milking load comes on, it is pointed out that when this takes place •it is probable that the demand in the city and the towns will be such that more power will be available for use in the country. It must be remembered that when the fire took place at Horahora in September, 1928, and threw that plant practically out of commission for some time, the dairying industry was able to carry on with only ascertain amount of inconvenience. As a possible means of overcoming a shortage of power, the board has submitted a proposal to the. Publio Works Department that alterations and additions be made to the plant owned by the board at Huntly, which would enable 500 h.p. to be developed.