HYDRO-ELECTRICITY

Southland Times, Issue 20208, 20 June 1927, Page 8

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY

DOMINION’S ACHIEVEMENTS. • STATEMENT BY PREMIER. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, June 19. I The Hon. J. G. Coates outlined the j achievements of hydro electricity in New Zealand on Saturday and stated he hoped the improved facilities would stop some of the drift from the country to urban centres. ; The total water power available in sources of 1000 horse power or more is about 770,000 h.p. in North Island and 4,110,000 h.p. in the South Island. The most important development of hydro electric power is the extension to farming and dairying. The total number of electrically driven milking machines at March 31, 1926 was 4,856 compared with 3,581 for 1925. In 1923 there were 1310. Regarding expenditure, Mr Coates said £5,733,000 was spent to date, £4,2§3,000 in the North Island and £144,000 in the South. Forty-two power boards have been formed of the 54 provided for in the original scheme. The total area covered by the boards is 65,446 square miles or 64 per cent of the Dominion area. The total population concerned is 863,041 or 61 per cent. The demand per person has greatly exceeded all expectation.