SUPPLEMENTARY POWER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20599, 25 June 1930, Page 10

SUPPLEMENTARY POWER.

The responsibility of the Government to maintain a full supply of electrical power for the Auckland Province was affirmed at yesterday's conference between the Auckland Power Board and members of both Houses of Parliament in terms sufficiently general in respect of the means to be employed, but with appropriate emphasis upon the urgency of the position. The available resources are already inadequate, restrictions are in force, though the demand has probably not yet reached its maximum, and there is no margin in reserve in case of interruptions at any of the sources of supply. This situation is too precarious to be tolerated; it certainly cannot be maintained for an indefinite period until the permanent supply from the national system is restored. Nor can there be any question regarding the obligation of the Government to provide the supplementary'plant required in this emergency period, either directly or by equitable arrangements with the Auckland board, the only supply authority able to give any practical assistance. There is imperative need for t such additional provision as will enable the combined resources to cater for the whole of the existing demand, both urban and rural, without restrictions injurious to industry or inconvenient to domestic consumers, and with a reasonable reserve against contingencies. Action to that extent should be taken by the Government without delay. Nor can it be indifferent to the claim made by the Auckland board for consideration of its special difficulties. For the time being, the board has undertaken full responsibility for its district without the assistance formerly received from the State service, and while the department is continuing to supply other authorities at normal rates, the Auckland board is faced with a serious increase in the cost of production. It has offered to instal another generating set of 15.000 kilowatts capacity, which is immediately available in England. Obviously the Government should cither meet part of the cost of this plant or make such a concession in the existing contract as would recompense the board for the assistance it has given in the past and is prepared to give now. To arrest the development of electrification until the permanent supply is restored would be detrimental to the State's own business and injurious to the industrial progress of the Auckland Province. Hence provision must also bo made for an increase in the .demand, by extending plant that will eventually be required for reserve purposes, or by expediting the completion of transmission lines from the Mangahao - Waikaremoana system. In respect of the latter aspect, opportunity should be taken at the proposed conference with the Minister of Public Works to ascertain positively whether there will be any surplus of power from the southern system or whether tho practical purpose of the unification will be to draw from tho Waikato enough power to make up for the deficiency in the Waikaremoana development. A definite answer to that question is necessary to any accurate estimation of the plant required during the present emergency, and as a reserve when Arapuni is again in operation.