ARAPUNI POWER SCHEME.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20338, 21 February 1928, Page 9

ARAPUNI POWER SCHEME.

MEASURES TO EXPEDITE WORK ■ DEFINITE ASSURANCES GIVEN. (Special to Dailt Times.) AUCKLAND, February 20. Power from Arnpuni should be available to the Auckland Electric Power Board in 18 months, but the full benefit of the completed scheme will not be obtained for two years, according to a report made to the board by the chairman, Hr W. J. Holdsworth. Following concern expressed at the previous meeting of the board, it was decided to make representations to the Government urging the more rapid completion of the work at Arapuni. Mr Holdsworth said he had interviewed the Prime Minister, the Minister of Public Works, and the engineer-in-chicf of the Public Works Department (Mr F. W. Furkert) on Thursday. Mr Furisert had given a definite undertaking that the erection of the plant at Penrose would be expedited by working taroe shifts, and the three Diesel sets there would be running by June. Regarding Arapuni, the Chairman said he had emphasised the importance of one turbine being sot in motion before the completion of the whole, and ho had been promised that that work would be concentrated upon. “ That, in conjunction with the plant here, should get over, the whole difficulty,” added Mr Holdsworth. Appreciation was expressed of the satisfactory nature of the chairman’s report. One member added the hope that the Government would live up to its promise. “ I expect it will,” said Mr Holdsworth. “ This is election year.”