ELECTRICAL DEVELOPMENT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18208, 2 October 1933, Page 6

ELECTRICAL DEVELOPMENT

PROPOSED ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE SCHEME COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE Possibly marking the opening of a new era in the development of electrical power employment in New Zealand, a remit earned' at the animal conference of the New Zealand Rower Authorities, at Wellington last, week, relative to the propositi to form an Electrical Development Association, is of particular interest to consumers of current in Gisborne and tlie surrounding district. the remit was fonvauled to the conference by tlie l ovcity Bay l’owcr Board, and was moved in conference by the Poverty Bay representative, who put lorward strong arguments in favor of the scheme. There was evidoiie of strong opposition to tlie proposals as they were first submitted, hut the Poverty Bay representative submitted an amendment which, while dropping the matters to which opposition was directed, left tlie way open for immediate | rogress with an investigation. In the original remit, it was suggested that the name of the Power Boards’ Association be changed to “New Zealand Electrical Development Association." with provision for the representation thereon of all bodies associated with the practical development of the electrical industry, including manufacturers of equipment, and dealers and salesmen employed in distributing appliances for the use of electric current. Other definite objects for the new association were laid down in the remit, these including the development of a national advertising and propaganda campaign, and examining and reporting on various electrical device's and appliances. When it hccain.e obvious • hat opposition would centre upon the defined objects of the remit, however, an amendment was offered by Mi-. L. R. Ball, in the following form:

“That a. committee he sot up forthwith, to investigate the possibility of forming a New eeal'iiid Electrical Development Association, ’’ this amended proposal gaining the approval of a majority of the delegates at the conference.

A committee comprising Messrs. F. R. Ball Poverty Bay), W. J. Iloldswovth (Auckland), G. A. Monk (llorowhenua), representing the power authorities, If. F. Toogood (Wellington), representing the Engineers’ Association, and 8. P. Day (Franklin), representing the Secretaries’ Association, was set up to furnish a report to I lie executive, and it is understood that the investigation will commence eaiiy in the new year.

It was pointed out to the conference by .Mr. Ball, in moving tlie amended remit, that with the completion of most of Hie reticulation work in the Dominion. the time was opportune for coordinating the activities of all concerned in furthering the development of electricity, and that some central authority was necessary for promoting that objective. The electrical industry at present, he said, fell into four main divisions. I'lie hydro-electric branch of the Public Works Department was engaged chiefly in (lie generation of electricity; the supply authorities were largely concerned with distribution; importers, manufacturers, retailers, contractors, and others were concerned with developing and distributing electrical appliances, and a general body of commercial and domestic consumers were concerned with making tlie most economical use of electricity in their various channels. Each of these sections, he remarked, was dependent upon the energy and enterprise of the others for its success, and absence of co-operation was undoubtedly proving a stumbling block to further progress.

1 The full exploitation of the power sources of the country would not be complete. Mr. Ball contended, until every consumer was using all the current lie required for every purpose. Although this objective might not be attainable for a long time, it should be possible to develop, more rapidly than at present, the potentialities immediately available

-—particularly those, in the domestic field. Local efforts to stimulate, expansion, born of the prolonged depression, were of a limited character, and savored of expediency rather than of normal development.

After reviewing conditions in the industry at present, Mr. Ball pointed out that reduced costs would aid public consumption, and that increased, consumption would in turn enable a further lowering of costs, bringing the cost of electricity gradually within the reach of new uses, tie argued that the progress made to date, in the expansion of electrical power demand, had been largely unavoidable, and asked tlie conference whether it was prepared to wait for business to come to the power authorities, or whether power authorities should be encouraged to go after the business, lie submitted bis remit with the conviction that progressive business methods must be used, and that coordination of effort was essential for tlie future.

The response of the conference was to appoint the committee, as mentioned above, to investigate the possibility of putting the Electrical Development. Association on a practical basis.