ARAPUNI PROBLEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20640, 12 August 1930, Page 12

ARAPUNI PROBLEM.

POWER BOARD'S POSITION.

. *'A STATE RESPONSIBILITY." DISCUSSION AT MEETING. A suggestion that tho Auckland Power .Board should obtain a private report on the position at Arapuni from local engineers was mado by Mr. E. 11. Potter at. a meeting of the board yesterday. Members of the board expressed the opinion that the situation at Arapuni was a problem'with which tho board was in no way concerned. In reply to Mr. Potter tho general manager, Mr. It. 11. Bartley said the tdtal cost of tho extensions and extra plant at King's Wharf station was estimated at £145,000, but the actual cost .would probably be less. Mr. Potter said it was proposed that tha Government should spend £300,000 at Huntly, which with £145,000 to bo spent by the board meant an expenditure of £450,000. As far as the board was concerned it was a vital matter that there should be information -concerning the cost of tho restoration of Arapuni. A at Huntly would mean additional cost for power to Auckland and to the Waikato boards. Although tho Government was obtaining a report on the Arapuni scheme, it was the duty of tho to get a private report from local engineers. The country was of pumico forniation and it was just possible that local engineers might give a better report than a foreign engineer. "More Than Foundations Involved." "It is only a question of foundations »fc Arapuni and it is a pity tho Government is not getting a report from some engineers such as those erecting the Sydney bridge," Mr. Potter said. "Such a report would not bo expensive. I havo been told by engineers that it would bo possible to effect repairs at a fairly low cost and that two units could bo run. If wo could get that without Huntly it jvonld mean a big saving." /Mr. J. Park said bo agreed that there fwere men in the colonies just as capable of giving an opinion as tho Swedish engineer, but a great deal more than the foundations was involved. It was a question of the country.- It had been mentioned to him by a Government analyst that it was possible that there was soluble matter in tho country, and this might havo contributed a great deal toward tho trouble. If this did exist the question of what might be done Was a very debatable point. Tho lato engineers had offered to go on with a /modified scheme. It was likely that thero were potashes in the country, and in that case, no matter what was spent thete would bo a risk in years to come. , jfle agreed that thero should be local men associated with the Swedish engineer. The Board's Responsibility. ."This is all very interesting, but it is • 'little out of order," said tho chairman, Jtlr. W. J. Iloldswortb The board had no concern with tho Arapuni development, ho said. It was a national undertaking, and the board was responsible for th<j( supply in its area only. The question cf 'the Huntly plant was out of tho board's jurisdiction. "We aro responsible 'to our own consumers," ho said, "and we havo been quite justified in meeting our requirements of the present and of the future. In this I think the li'oard has shown great foresight." Mr. Holdsworth said he did not think the board would be justified in spending one penny as Mr. Potter suggested. Ho thought it would be wise to leave it as a Government responsibility. The board j/ad taken all necessary steps to meet the situation, and when the work was completed it would have ono of the finest steam plants in the Southern Hemisphere. Meeting Future Demands. Mr. Park said there seemed to be some misunderstanding regarding tho board's position in meeting future demands. As far as the board was concerned it had nothing to do with the Government, but itJ was to give its.,area a full supply without any restrictions on new supplies. It was less likely that thero would be interruptions now than thero would be ;with tho uncertainty of Arapuni. Mr. T. Bloodworth said that now that an engineer had been appointed to report on the Arapuni scheme it was a matter ,which was. really sub judico. "As far as I can see we are no more concerned with Arapuni now than we were before it came in" said Mr. Park. Mr. hotter: We are concerned with the price. I The general manager was authorised to call tenders for steel construction extensions at King's Wharf station, which will be proceeded wi'h upon tho completion of the foundations.