COMMENT BY MR. COATES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 256, 29 October 1934, Page 8

COMMENT BY MR. COATES

A WISE POLICY FOLLOWED. * “The opening of the Waitaki power scheme marks another important point in the progress being made with the development of hydro-electric power in this country, :> said the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates. “It is of particular interest to me on account of my connection, as Minister of Public Works, when several of the other major developments were being carried out, and because of the fact that it was whilst 1 was Prime Minister that the present Waitaki development was inaugurated. “It is pleasing to see that successive Governments and successive Ministers have confirmed the policy of the <’.e velopment of the (Dominion's wonderful resources in waterpower pn broai, national lines and in conformity with a definite scheme. I think it is generally agreed among those who are conversant with the power supply problem that New Zealand has tackled ‘he problem in the correct way, and that the Government has been well advise 1 by its technical experts in launching and carrying through the various development® that have been completed. The Grid Scheme. “Citizens may all have read of the great, scheme, known as the grid scheme, that has been carried out m Great Britain during the past two years. The New Zealand scheme is based on the same fundamentals and although commensurate with our population. it deals with much smaller quantities. It was actually well on the way before the British scheme was started, and at the present time has reached a stage of making power available in rural and country areas, far in advance of what has been done in the older countries. It is true that we have the advantage of a much. more, plentiful supply of wafer power, and being a newer and less developed country, we have not been troubled to t.ae same extent by vested interests, and have thus been able to develop along lines which experience and judgment have shown to be the. most desirab’p. “The. particular scheme by which the generation and supply to the main sub-stal ions, or dishibution points, is controlled by the State, and the ac- | tual di-I ribution to consumers coni trolled by local authorities set up for that, specific prupose, is perhaps peculiar to this country. The foundation of this method was laid in the ieg’.< lation of .1918, when the Eleet-LC power Boards Act. was passed. The set tingup of the various power beards throughout the. Dominion has done a great deal to bring the development of electricity to the present «iig i stage. It has given to the people generally, through the local authority in the district, a direct interest in th:--. great 1 business, and there is no question that I th ? energy and enthusiasm of these local power boards have enabled the lines to be pushed out into areas that, would have been difficult if the work had been attempted by one organisation alone. It may be that in one or two cases these local controlling authorities have been unduly optimistice and may, in their enthusiasm, have gone a little further than later ex- ' perience would have dictated as being wise. Considering the size and complexity of the task that has been undertaken, however, I think we can safely say that not manv mistakes have been made, and that the mistakes are more than counterbalanced by the. many ad vantages that have accrued from tho policv that has been adopted. “One. of the most pleasing features of the development generally has been the co-operation between town and country. There are, of course, cases where, this co-operation has not been fully observed, and where borough authorities have sought to retain complete independence in power supply matters. Though, no doubt, those in charge of tho. electricity in these towns consider that they are acting in the best interests of their particular town, it is. to my mind, a pity that, all cannot. pull together and subscribe fully to the policv which has made power so generally available. Needs of District. “Dealing more specifically with the Waitaki development, while I wish particularly to congratulate the people op

North Otago and South Canterbury in haying this great power plant, at, their back door, as it were. I wish also to emphasise the fact that it is part of an organised system, and that its selection was dictated as much on account, of its suitability as a part, of that system as on account of its own excellence as a power site, or on account of the par ticular needs of South Canterbury and North Otago. It improves the system generally, in that it has characteristics ■that are different, from the other plants lon either side of it at Waipori and at J Lake Coleridge. It provides the oppor tunity of considerable further development at comparatively little additional cost. It, feeds into general transmission system at a. point midway between the other two main source of supply, and so is able Io come to the assistance of either of them should occasion arise. Past Experience. “With this new work completed, we, appear for the moment to have a surplus of power available. I well remember the experience of the past, however, and the clamour of the people of Canterbury for the Government to lift them out of the position of ■ being continually faced with the pros- ( pect of. having to restrict their power , demand because we might possibly be | short of power to supply their needs. f With this in view, I feel sure that the • capacity at Waitaki will soon be utilised. There is. also, no doubt, but that Waitaki. having always a surplus of | water in the summer time when the ' . ordinary city and domestic power load ( is. not at a maximum, is in a partieu , larly favourable position to cater for . special manufacturing industries which 1 , might require large blocks of power at specially favourable rates. j ■ “In conclusion. 1 would like to con , gratulate the officers and men of the I department which has brought this [ j great work to a successful conclusion, | j

and fn express my opinion that He operation in the future will go to show that New Zealand has an electric supply system of which anyone might he proud. ”