POWER FOR THE PROVINCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20604, 1 July 1930, Page 10

POWER FOR THE PROVINCE.

The proposed arrangements for augmenting Ihe electricity supplies of the Auckland Province are probably the best that can be achieved within the limits of practicable expedition. As the winter load declines, the Auckland Board expects to be able to assist the Government stations in meeting the needs of the dairying industry; and, having accommodation ready, it will be able to bring another generating set of 15,000 kw. capacity into operation in April. Similar plant-is to be installed by the Government in the Waikato coalfield, but it will be a year before it begins to produce power. The situation is, indeed, precarious, At present, the Auckland station is being driven to its utmost, there is only a narrow mavgin above the restricted supply in the rural areas, no relief can be expected for nine months, and next, winter will be well advanced before the risk of misadventure can be regarded with less than grave anxiety. However, it must be recognised that steps to meet the emergency have been taken promptly, and that no more than temporary inconvenience will have to be borne by consumers if the installation of the supplementary plant is completed with equal expedition. Mr. Taverner's appeal for public co-operation should not need repetition: a community so keenly appreciative of the value of electricity should understand thoroughly that the energy cannot be stored, but may be used only as fast as it is generated, so that carelessness in drawing on a limited supply may cause not only embarrassment of others, but dangerous interruptions of a whole system. In the circumstances, the supply authorities arc bound to cater first for industrial needs, especially for the dairy farms and factories during the next few months, and others must, suffer patiently such restrictions as may be necessary. One passage in the Minister's statement seems <(• dispose finally of any possibility o f assistance from the WaikaremoanaMangahao system. Mr. Tavcrner said that a transmission line-to tap that system might be completed "in 12 months, but there would by then be no power to spare, after meeting the demaud in the southern portion of the island. No reference war made to the question of increasing tho generating plant at Waikaremoana; the only possible inference is that the Minister's statement confirms tho unofficial reports that the theoretical capacity of that scheme cannot be exploited, that Waikare-moana-Mangahao will soon be over taken by the consumption in the three southern provinces, and that further expansion must be supplied from the Waikato system. If that is the prospect, the importance of Arapuni is enhanced, and there is greater need for auxiliary steam stations to meet, the present emergency and to provide a reserve against future contingencies. There was therefore good reason for extending the plant at Arupuni and deferring the linking of the two main systems, since the junction would not serve any useful purpose until a surplus of power was made available from the "Waikato.