The Taranaki Herald. DAILY EVENING SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1920. HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16810, 7 August 1920, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. DAILY EVENING SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1920. HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

People are beginning to realise that the development of hydroelectric power in the. Dominion is going to be a really great business which will compare in magnitude with the railways and exceed that of the post office and telegraphs. Mr. Parry estimated that it would require a capital expenditure of seven millions to develop the three main sources of power in the North Island and carry the transmission lines to the main centres of distribution. This sum, with present prices, is probably underestimated at 10 millions. The South Island will require a similar expenditure and the total will he doubled by the expenditure of the district power boards on local transmission lines. This will necessitate a total expenditure of about 40 millions, a sum just about equal to the capital cost of our railways. In view of the large developments proposed it is essential that the control of the work should be put in competent hands, and it is a wise step to take it from tho Public Worfcs Department and establish a special branch for its management. It is considered that half tho present coal consumption will be saved by flic use of electric power and that the saving under the head of firewood and mineral oils will amount to ,£1300,000 per annum. These figures are probably within the mark, hut it would not be wise to consider that the development of onr coal and oil resources can he disregarded owing to the advent of electric power. Experience shows that in the case of power the demand grows at a greater rate than the supply. The whole supply of power from the Mangahao source is likelv to he taken up as soon as the transmission lines are put Through and it is not too optimistic to believe that within a very few years after the three main schemes in the North Island are in working order an outcry will be raised that still more power is required. This has been the case with tlie Lake Coleridge, scheme, in *which the units sold increased from 4 millions in 1.916, to 114, 20 and 23 millions in the years following. It is now proposed to extend the scheme and, even then, the demands from Canterbury will not be satisfied. Much coal that would otherwise have been required in Christchurch has undoubtedly been saved, but the demand for coal there is still as great as ever, so that one may fairly say of power supplies that the appetite grows with eating. It is obvious that the district which can supply cheap power for its industries will reap the advantage. It is true that electricity can be conveyed for considerable distances, but every mile of transmission adds to the cost and to the loss by leakage, so the tendency is for industries to he established in the vicinity of the source of power. So far as water power is concerned Taranaki is in a very favourable position and tbe, local authorities have shown a laudable anxiety to utilise the advantages which nature has provided. The biggest installations in the Dominion at present are the Lake

Coleridge supply established by the State, the Waipori works owned by the Dunedin City Council, and the Hohahora installation, recently taken over from the Waihi Gold-mining Company by the State; each of these provides 8000 horse-power. The Dominion Cement Company comes next on the list, with 3300 horse-power obtained from the Wairua Falls; and is followed by the New Plymouth Borough Council with an 1150 horse-power scheme, which is now being enlarged. There are smaller power stations at Inglewood, Stratford and Patea, so that Taranaki, with a population of 56,000 and 1560 horse-power from water, is probably already bettet ofl than any other part of the Dominion, though our experience shows that the possibilities of the utilisation of electric energy have hardly been touched as yet.