STANDBY PLANT ESSENTIAL

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1239, 17 July 1947, Page 3

STANDBY PLANT ESSENTIAL

ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY Mr. W. S. Goosman’s Views “I have heard a lot of talk indicating that because other countries are short New Zealand should be short, but I thought we led the world,” declared Mr. IV. S. Goosman (Piako), discussing the liydro-eleetric power supply position, in the House of Representatives. “If we lead the world there i s no reason for us to be short, and if there had not been the muddle there has been we would not have been short. As the Leader of the Opposition- has said, -we lead the world in shortages,” he addedThe Minister had repeatedly ignored warning from the supply authorities, continued Mr. Goosman. If the war stopped hydro-electric works, then other plant to fill the gap could have been obtained. Mr. Goosman said he had information showing that plant had gone to other countries all over the world while New Zealand had gone without. He agreed that New Zealand’s ‘ main source of power should be hydro-electricity, which should be utilised to the limit. It should he developed wherever possible, because it was the cheapest. Power was essential, and if it could be got the price was only a secondary consideration; a supply that fluctuates was no use. “We have to have power every day, we have to have it every hour of the day, therefore we must have a standby,” said Mr. Goosman.

Arapuni Station Mr. Goosman said he had Been to Arapuni recently, and he found l the station was working at 40 per cent, capacity. At Karapiro there was one generator installed, and the only water going over the spillway was a little drop leaking out of the gate. The lake at Karapiro wanted another ten feet to come up to the top of the control. At that time Waikaremoana was down 15 feet. Surely the Minister and the department realised what electricity meant to the people. “1 wonder if the Minister has a picture ctf people living in an all-electric house, with no chimneys or fire-places, sitting shivering and thinking about promises of the Government that there would he plenty of electricity,’’ he said. “I wonder if they realise what this shortage means to mothers with throe, four or. even six children. They have to put up with much inconvenience.” Mr. Goosman said New Zealand had only one order in Britain at present for hydro-electric plant, and that was for another generator for Waitaki. He stressed the necessity for the provision of standby plant, emphasising that it played an important part in the maintenance of the supply of power during critical periods.