NEED OF CONFERENCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1005, 23 June 1930, Page 10

NEED OF CONFERENCE

WAITEMATA CHAIRMAN AND ARAPUNI EFFECT ON FINANCES “I am of the opinion that it is the urgent duty of the Government to provide additional power at the earliest possible moment, to give relief to the situation which must arise next winter, and that when the Minister of Public Works issues an early authoritative statement, officers of the boards drawing a supply from the scheme should meet in urgent conference at Hamilton to discuss future supply matters with responsible officers of the Public Works Department.” This is an extract from the report by Mr. G. Trevithick, chairman of the Waitemata Power Board, which was received at a meeting of the board held this morning. The report stated that owing to the shut-down at Arapuni there was no doubt that the financial position of the board would be affected during the next two years, but until the halfyearly figures were available no definite indications could yet be given as to the actual effect of the curtailment of supply on the board’s estimated revenue. The estimates were framed under a different set of conditions from those which confronted the board today. That allocated for immediate supply was a reduction of one-seventh on the maximum load for May. WAIKATO PERTURBED LACK OF INFORMATION ALLOCATION OF POWER From Our President Reporter HAMILTON, Sunday. The following statement was issued yesterday on behalf of the Central Electric-Power Board, Hamilton: In common with all other supply authorities in the Auckland Province, the trouble at Arapuni is causing grave concern to the Central ElectricPower Board. The only intimation received from the Public "Works Department up to date is that the amount of power available is to be reduced by one- seventh, and that whereas the maximum demand for the week ending May 25 was 816 k.w. at Ruakura sub-station, and 636 k.w. at the Huntly sub-station, the allocation would be 700 k.w. and 550 k.w. respectively. Owing to absence of information as lo how long this allocation is likely to continue, the board has not been able to formulate any policy for future working. In the meantime, it has issued a request to its consumers to restrict their demands as much as possible. In order to keep faith with those who have already definitely arranged for supply, their installations will be connected up as completed, but in the meantime new applications are being held up as much as possible until the position has been defined by the department. With regard to the possible shortage of power when the milking load comes on, it is pointed out that when this takes place it is probable that the demand in the city and the towns will be such. that more power will be available for use in the country. It must be remembered that when the fire took place at Horahora in September, 1928, and threw that plant practically out of commission for some time, the dairying industry was able to carry on with only a certain amount of inconvenience. As a possible means of overcoming a shortage of power, the board has submitted a proposal to the Public Works Department that alterations ancl additions be made to the plant owned by the board at Huntly, which would enable 500-h.p. to be developed. SCIENTISTS AT ARAPUNI EXPERTS INSPECT WORKS Fro m Our Oxett Correspondent ARAPUNI, Today. ine situation at Arapuni is being scientifically surveyed, today by a. party of geological experts, "who arrived this morning, and who are engaged. on an inspection of the -works. The scientific party includes: Dr. E Marsdcn, secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research ; Dr. P. Marshall, formerly geologist at Otago University; Professor J. A. Bartrum, professor of geology at Auckland University College; and Dr. J. Henderson, of the geological survey. ECONOMISING IN POWER QUESTION OF STREET LIGHTS “While a final decision has not vet been made, it is very probable that the Arapuni lake will have to be emptied before the damage done to the spillway can be investigated and remedied."’ states a letter from the Public Works Department’s electrical engineer at Hamilton to the Waitemata Power Board, indicating the amount of electric power available. The. letter was received at a meeting of the board held this morning. Mr. G. Trevithick said that there had

to be a cut-down on the usual amount of power used, and for this purpose Henderson and Albany districts had been cut off for a short time recently. According to Mr. J. Mackie, the turning on of the street lights in the evenings could well be deferred for perhaps an hour. To do this would probably be the first action the board could take and the street lights could certainly not be regarded as important as the lighting and heating in houses. Mr. F. J. H. Wilson, engineer to the board, said that he did not favour the idea of deferring the lighting of the streets. In the Xorth Shore, people were returning from the businesses just when the lights were put on and it would not at all be adviseable to have the place in darkness in the face of this fact.