POWER FOR PROVINCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20604, 1 July 1930, Page 12

POWER FOR PROVINCE.

mm STEAM PLANT.

AUCKLAND AND WAIKATO.

FIRST UNIT READY IN APRIL

PERIOD OF RESTRICTIONS.

MEETING COUNTRY DEMAND

[f!7 TELEfIRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.]

WELLINGTON, Monday,

To meet tho power shortage caused by tho shutting down of the Arapuni hydroelectric woirks the Government proposes to instal a 3tear« plant in the Waikato noal district, probabiy ut Huntly or Ngaruawahix, while the Auckland ElectricPower Board intends to augment its steam plant at King's Wharf station, Each plant will bo capable of generating 15.000 kw. The Auckland Board has already secured an option over a plant in Ergland and it is expected tho plant will be functioning by April next. The anticipated cost is £1150,000. The Government is prepared to spend dp to £200,000 on the installation of its plant and inquiries have already been instituted 'in London with a view to &e-

curing ft suitable one. However, it does not seem likely that the plant can bo inj stalled within a year. It in anticipated that by fie time the milking load increases' the Auckland Board will be able to feed back part of its power to assist jn tho supplying of country needs. These arrangements were announced by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. W. B. Taverner. when ho conferred today with representatives of the Auckland Provincial Power Boards which had been drawing power from Arapuni. Several members of Parliament representing tho district affected also attended. Minister Outlines Position. The boards represented were Auckland, Waitemata, Waitomo, Bay of Plenty, Thames Valley. To Awamutn, Franklin, Cambridge and Central. Mr. J. Ft Fow, Mayor of Hamilton, was also present by invitation. Mr. Taverner explained that several representations had been made to him to convene a conference of board 3 and he Irtd intended to do so in any case as soon as the position had become stabilised. " The position is one in the meeting of which we can all help," said tho Minister. " The period of the emergency none of n3 can estimate, but it will be a considerable ono and the circumstances are such that wo all share in them. " On paper afc least wo have a small margin of power. The position in Auckland City is that the King's Wharf stearn plant is being run on a 3000 kw. overload at certain periods of the day. That is a very awkward and a very serious position and it is to bo hoped that the plant will be able to carry on without any difficulty." The Minister said it was Anticipated that within two months the 'Auckland Board would be able to feed back a certain amount of power to the Government plants as the Auckland winter load fell off, but only the future could show how much Auckland power would le available. Capacity of Government Plants. The maximum capacity of tho Government plants was 16,750 kw., made up as follows: —Horuhora, 10, COO; Grand Junction, 3000; Penrose, 3750; McLaren's Falls, 2000. In addition there were the following small plantsPukekoho, 160; Waiuku, 120; Cambridge Dairy Company, 25C ; To Kuiti Lime Company, 150. " Taking a general view it would seem that we must ask everyone to act with some degree of regard for his neighbour and thus spread tho load," said the Minister. " A suggestion has been made with reference to tho linking up of Waikaremoana with the northern system, a distance, I believe, of about fiO miles. I arn informed it would take IB months under ordinary working conditions to do that or, perhaps,. 12 months as a rush job. It has to b<3 remembered, however, that there are growing demands on Waikaremoansi, and it is probable that in 12 months there will be no Waikaremoana ] tower to spare. So it does not look us if we can get much assistance from that direction." Pointing out how the amount which might bo demanded by the various boards had grown. Mr. Taverner cited the case t'l Thames Valley, which had estimated to take 1500 kw. and was drawing 7000, and of Central, which had estimated to take 600 and was drawing 2000. Any inconvenience brought about by the emergency would be largely confined to prospective customers and not to those now being supplied. Prime Minlstor'a Assurance. Tho Prime Minister, Hon. G. W. Forbcti, who attended tho earlier part of tho conference, gave an assurance that tho Government would do everything reasonably possible to . assist in overcoming what could only bo regarded as a national disaster. Before undertaking any large expenditure at Arapuni the Government intended to get tho very best advice possible as to the lines along which expencnture should go Sp< aking again, tho Minister of Public Works outlined tho scheme to deal with tho emergency. He said the Auckland Board proposed to add to its stearn plant by installing an additional 15,000 kw. nnit and by those means would feed back to tho Government lines.

The proposal was for the board to pay for tho plant itself. As far ns tho Government was concerned, the Minister had authority to spend up to £200,000 to secure a plant to bo owned and operated hy tho State adjacent to one of Waikato coalmines. The Auckland Board had a plant under offer and a site available and would thus bo able to arrange for its quick installation. With both plants in operation, it would be possiblo to generate 3),000 kw. moro. Position of Arapuni.

The Government had first, to find a plant, solect a sito, arrange for coal supplies and have the plant installed, an operation which would take some time longer than the installation of the Auckland Board's plant. However, once that provision had boen made tho position would be secure.

It was proper that the conference should nsk him when Arapuni would bo recommissioned, continued tho Minister. Unfortunately, he could not answer that question. Ho suggested the minimum time would bo 12 months, but it was quite possible it would lie two years. Ho was not expies&ing that viow as an engineer, but as one visualising the position as it was likely to be. If Arapuni were not recommissionnrj or the recoininissioning took longer than expected and meanwhile the load increased it would lie possible to add to. tho steam plant the Government intended to secure. Tha position then wan that if tho difli culties of the next 12 months could be Barmonntod thare nred be no further •nxiety, as tho position could bo quite wfegtwrded.