POWER SUPPLY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24675, 30 August 1943, Page 4

POWER SUPPLY

NORTH ISLAND MEEDS MORE PLANTS ADVOCATED The immediate installation of steam, Diesel, or small hydro-electric works to meet electricity requirements up to 1.947 was recommended in a report submitted to the conference of the Power Boards' Association at Napier by a subcommittee appointed by a regional meeting of northern supply authorities. It was suggested that a delegation of engineers, with a Treasury nominee, should go overseas to obtain generating plant. Even with additional plant at Arapuni and Piripaua, no relaxation of the existing restrictions could be expected in 1944, and the position was likely to be much worse in 1945, stated the report. It was a matter of urgent national necessity that schemes under construction should be completed and work on projected schemes on the Wnikato River should commence now. Unless a new major station, with a capacity of 100,000 kw., in addition to those now under construction, was in' operation by the winter of 1948, the position then might he worse than at present. Work at Karapiro The winter of 1946 was the most optimistic estimate for the completion of the Karapiro works, for which the plant was under construction. The additional 20,000 kw. machine on the upper Waikaremoana should be ready by the beginning of 1944. Two 16,000 kw. units should be available when construction of the civil work on the lower Waikaremoana was completed. Only under most favourable circumstances could this be before the winter of 1945. It was expected that the two new Arapuni units, totalling 43,200 kw., would be in use next winter.

Discussing methods of meeting requirements to the end of 1946, the subcommittee said completion of portion of a projected major hydro-electric scheme was impracticable in the time available. As to schemes of 5000 to 12.000 kw. capacity, the most likely one appeared to be Te Reinga Falls, near Lake Waikaremoana. There might be possibilities on the Kaituna River. As installation time was of major importance, small hydro-electric schemes should be considered. Steam Generating Plant It did not seem that Diesel plants could be procured, those made outside of enemy-occupied countries or Switzerland being used in submarines. The matter could be investigated. Assuming orders could he placed and lirst priority given by next month, the machines for steam plants would have to arrive by the end of next year in time for installation to meet the peak demand of 1945. The most practicable location appeared to be King's Wharf. So far as steam generating plant was concerned, the sub-committee considered that the coal position could be met by the use of prisoner of war labour, or the recruitment of native mining labour from Fiji, or other islands. The solution of the problem of providing large supplies of power from 1947 onward was the development of major hydro-electric schemes. The first three projected schemes on the Waikato River were estimated to produce 330,000 kw.

FOOD PRODUCTION THE WORLD CONFERENCE Short-term deficiencies and long-term surpluses were the problems which had to be faced in the post-war period, stated the New Zealand delegation to the United Nations' conference on food and agriculture held at Hot Springs, Virginia, in May and June of this "year. The conference was attended by representatives of 4-1 countries, and the Dominion's delegates were Mr. R. M. Campbell, official secretary, High Commissioner's Office, London, Mr. G. A. Duncan, director of the Export Division, Marketing Department, and Mr. E. J. Fawcett, Director-General of Agriculture. The conference worked in four sections, dealing with consumption, production, distribution, and future organisation respectively. In its report of the proceedings to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, the delegation mentions that the discussions revealed a wide and challenging gap between actual levels of consumption and the minimum necessary to health. The success of particular nutritional measures, such as the wartime feeding of Great Britain, was emphasised. In reviewing the expansion and adaptation of production, the conference discovered that food production was possible on a scale far exceeding all realised totals, but it was equally clear that human needs based on any adequate standards of health and nutrition must be far from satisfied. That truth made sharper the challenge to men's capacity for sensible organisation. From affirming the overshadowing necessity for international security and a progressively expanding economy, to governmental and other measures for wider food distribution, and to detailed suggestions in marketing technique, the section on distribution covered a wide range. Some measures were suggested of a kind already adopted by New Zealand, and it was encouraging to see how closely changes were favoured along the lines this country had taken. It was finally recommended that a permanent international organisation be established in the field of food and agriculture, and it was resolved to establish an interim commission to forward the work of the conference in the meantime. SOLDIER'S TRIBUTE In a letter of thanks to the staff of the Wanganui City Council for a parcel he received while a patient in a New Zealand hospital in the Middle East, an English soldier, Clifford Charlesworth. Royal Corps of Signals, pays a tribute to the fighting prowess of the Now Zealand Division. "The Kiwi name ranks among the highest out here," lie says. "1 am proud to say that 1 knew them in the desert and in the hospital, and with such fine work being up here and 'down under' wo cannot lose.''

£IOO TO SHIFT SUGAR The Wellington Metropolitan Patriotic Committee has been advised that the sugar stored in a building in Wakefield Street was expected to be removed to another building opposite, releasing the former structure for patriotic purposes. The cost of shifting the 900 tons of sugar across the road was estimated at £IOO. One member of the committee said that nearly 10s a ton foi shifting sugar across the road seemed to be rather much to pay The chairman intimated that perhaps the committee would not have to pay anything. seeing that it was a patriotic business.