SHORTAGE OF CURRENT

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17229, 21 December 1923, Page 11

SHORTAGE OF CURRENT

ASHBURTON PREPARING FOR WORST.

A passage appeared in the consulting engineer's (Mr R: Ternplin Vs) report to the Ashburton Power Board yesterday indicating that, according to the Government allocation of Coleridge power and the local demand, there would probably be a shortage in 1925 and 1926.

The chairman (Mr F. W. Watt) said this passage provided the subject some time ago for a special meeting of the board, namely, the North Branch schema, which the board had in mind. When the board commenced its propaganda campaign it had the- printed propose of the Public Works Department that the duplication of the Coleridge transmission line would bo gone right on with. Had the Department gone ahead with the work two years ago, the board would have had the expected supply when it was ready. When the Waimakariri scheme was brought forward the Public Works Department turned down its own promiso to duplicate the Coleridge line, and nothing had been done except a little office work.

Mr Ternplin said he believed the tunnel work had been commenced. The chairman said tho times the town had been '‘out” so far as Coleridge was concerned had been, many. This was a serious matter, but accord-

ing to Mr Templin’s latest advice a big improvement could be expected in this respect. Mr Ternplin said lie was now informed that the Public Works Department would have the Coleridge line duplicated for South Canterbury in 1928. His previous information was that the work would be ready in 1927. It was decided to hold a special meeting to discuss the North Branch ‘scheme, the date to be fixed at the next ordinary meeting of the board.