HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3823, 21 June 1927, Page 35

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

DEVELOPMENT IN DOMINION. WELLINGTON, June 19. Some of the achievements of hydroelectrical development in New Zealand were outlined by the Prime Minister (the Lt. Hon. J. G. Coates) on Saturday. Among other matters Air Coates mentioned the effect the provision of these facilities is likely to exercise on the urban drift problem.

‘New Zealand,” said Mr Coates, “is particularly well provided with available water power, and has appropriately been termed the Switzerland of the Southern Hemisphere, lhe total water power available in the Dominion in sources of 1000 horse-power or more i s about 770,600 horsepower in the North Island and 4,110 000 horse-power in the South Island. Unfortunately the largest blocks of power are situated in very inaccessible positions in the Southern Fiords, although fairly close to navigable waters. 1 rom a national point of view the most important result which is anticipated in New Zealand from the uevelopment of hydro-electric power i s its extension to th o farming and dairying districts. In common with other countries New Zealand is experiencing an ‘urban drift,' and it is expected that the provision of the convenience and comforts of electric power in the country districts will do somethintowards cheeking this drift. Already in many places the installation of electric power m the farm houses and outbuildings ha? been an important factor, makimr the young people more satisfied with the country life, and in particular making domestic work more tolerable. A return of the number of electrified milking machines in different districts gives an indication of the extent to which electric power is being utilised in this most important New Zealand industry. The toal number of electrically-driven milking machines at 1926, was 4856, compared with. 3581 for lhe previous year. In 1923 there were 1310, so that the increase for three years is 3546, or 2/0 per cent. ‘A considerable increase in domestic loading is being met, showing the increasing appreciation of electric service by country dwellers in particular. In many of the new districts that are beinreticulated 10 per cent, of the consumeis are installing electric ranges.” Coates gave the following particulars regarding the expenditure: — Total to date, £5.733,000. North Island, £4,293.000; South Island £1,440,000. For the year ended March 31 1927. £1,045,000. North Island, £904,000: South Island £141,000. The original scheme for the formation of electric power boards provided for the formation of 54 boards, added the Prime Minister. Since the Electric Power Boards Act came into operation 42 boards had been constituted. The total area covered by the boards already formed was 65,466 square miles, or 64 p*er cent, of the total area of the Dominion. The total population concerned was 863,041, or 61 per cent, of the total population of New Zealand. The demand per person had greatly exceeded expectations, and the majority of the boards suppleid from Mangahao were well ahead of their guarantees. The large additional power which would be available from Arapuni and Waikaremoana would soon be required to cope with the increasing demand. "Although I have been unable to get particulars from all the power boards,’’ said Mr Coates, “the following information will give a fair idea as to how the country folk are adopting the use of hydro-elec-tric power: Total number of connections,, 54,000; of electric ranges, 3000;; number of water heaters, 5350 ; number efi water pumps, 1120.”