HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 3 June 1926, Page 5

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

POSITION IN TIMARU. IMMEDIATE ACTION URGED. The question of the supply of hydroelectric power for Soutn Canterbury was the subject ol considerab.'o discussion ut last night's meeting of tho South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, when it was unanimously resolved that the South Canterbury Power Board be respectfully requested to take immediate act.on to urge on the Government the speedy completion, of the Luke Coleridge duplication works, including especially the completion of the second transmission lino to Timaru. The president (Mr R. B. Bell) briefly outlined the report submitted by the sub-committee appointed, and invited full discussion on the subject, which lie characterised as being ol vital importance to the town and district. The report presented by Mr P. B. Foote, convener, was read as follows : The Special Committee, consisting of Messrs J. Anstey, W. G. Irwin, \V. T. Ritchie, and P. B. Foote '■ convener), set up to go fully into the question of the supply of hydro-electric power lor South Canterbury, commenced its deliberations on. Wednesday, May .26. It was obviously impossible to consider every phase of the position at one meeting, but your committee was able Lo formulate certain definite proposals, which, in its opinion, warranted the earliest possible consideration by the Council and also oy a meeting of tho general body of members Your committee takes special pleasure in reporting that ihe following findings and recommendations, now placed before you, constitute its unanimous decisions: — (1). That the principle, that all hydro-electric schemes in New Zealand should be developed by . the Gov.einlue.nt, and the power derived tbcrofiom distributed through Power Boards, be endorsed. , , . (2). That the present supply ot electricity, in South Canterbury is uiisatislactory. (3). That a letter be sent to the South, Canterbury Power Board expressive of the Chamber s anxiety concerning the present uiisatistactoi y position in respect ot the supply ot hvdro-eleetrie power to South vmutub'urv, and that the Board be vespectivciv requested to fake immediate Motion as follows: — , ~ (a) To urge on the Government the speedy completion of the Lake Coleridge duplication works, uicluuuu. especially the completion ot t.io second transmission line to Tiniaru. (b) To call the attention ot the Prime Minister to tlie long delay in the completion and presentation ot tho promised expert report on fkc iocat on if the new hvdro-clectnc pov ei scheme 'in moving the adoption of the re nort Mr' Foote said the subcommittee ,3£the Government to push on the as quickly as possible. Mr J. Anstey said that it vns ueu known that a number ot people v eio fusing electric power owing to its unsatisfactory and unrel.uble. supply • ttSSKaS. , TS3fc!i»i«* shortly be completed. As legal (led the venerator, however, the position was not so satisfactory. ~ The . new venerator had apparently, not. .arrived. . When it did arrive and was comp eted, more power would be generated, b t that was not the trouble South Canterbury bad not suffered in the past, thron'd] lack of'power, but owing to the unsatisfactory stale ot transmission Unless the double line was moenllv pushed ahead all the extia power generated at Coleridge would not assist, them in any way. Ho considered liiat as lines, were not being elected all over the country it was imperative that a strong demajia for more current should be imnudiat I Vide He considered that they should "trough' impress upon the Power 80-r l flu- advisability of at once urging the Government to push abend the v-oik ol erecting the second transmission Mr Ritchie considered that once tho second transmission line came along •i area for demand for light and power would result. He thought that point should also be impressed upon the Government. . , Mr O Hutchison considered u wmuci he an excellent idea to ask the Government to expedite, the work At the Co o'iinl Motor Co.’s premises they had put in an auxiliary plant to help out the power problem, and if more poui was forthcoming extra plant would be installed. At'the present tunc a breakdown of half an hour meant a cost of to to his company. Mr TV. G. Irwin said that tremendous difficulties had been encountered bv the Government, and lie was sure that the Government was doing its best to expedite tlie work. Howcvei, lie felt that there would be r:o harm in asking them to expedite tho work. Air E Porter said that the present state of affairs had been forecasted ernie time ago. During the time the Government had been occupied in , ' tunnelling more water to Colei ldao, Tckapo con’d have been supplying North Canterbury with current He considered that the duty of the Power Board was now to demand another '. oiii'cc of power. _ , Mr Irwin said the Power Board should not be blamed, but tho public nhn had turned down the loan proposals. . Mr Foote stated that no good purpose would be served in discussing past history. In regard to sub-clause b ot the report, Mr Anstey said that Mr Coates had promised to send bis idik-ors down to report on Tekapo, but the report 1 had not yet arrived. He understood that the engineers were now investigating flic possibilities of tho AYaitaki river," and doubtless that would account for the delay in the report. Ho considered that the proncr place for lho next supply was in South Canterbury, and that unless urgent steps : were taken Christchurch would get in ; with its AYLaimakariri scheme to the detriment of a possib’e South Cantcrbu'-' r supply. The report was then adopted.