ELECTRICAL SUPPLY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 278, 24 November 1936, Page 8

ELECTRICAL SUPPLY

MR. SEMPLE’S BIG JOB | WILL CONSULT EXPERTS MAXIMUM USE DESIRED [ Per Press Association. ] WAJtOA, Nov. 23. The next big job to underta-cn by the Hon. R. Semple is an investigation into th? whole business ol electrical supply ucco: ii-vi to < n announcement male by him in \ airoa during the week-end, wnen he indicated that the system ni.ch’ e taken over by the Str to 1 his announcement was ma J 3 by Mr Semple at a hearing of the long stuiicui'g dispute between the V/mro-i EkL.ncPower Board and the Wauna Koroui.h Council for the payment of bulk supply electricity to the borough. Initial steps have ’••.tn taken Ly th- t- ard m endeavour to recover through the Supreme Curt an amount ;.ID’ <*u '□ have been -hort paic. tn the Borough Council and trie ‘4<”is:c ' anpe«;l?u to both parties ti avoid 1 ii-utv >r. at al! costs. His sugg 3 t>:i. al- T heai ng the facts, was that the two boaie? should make a shurt-term agree r.-’.-on the basis of the oi 1 agreement until such time as re had had the crportunity of putting the sys en cn a better footing. Mr Semple sail that he was not at all satisfied with the general rami fications of the administration of electricity throughout the Dominie.v He wished to confess that he h l not yet had time to gi'<? tbc qur."ion much consideration. As y?t all hi.® time had been taken .in vi>h his 'wo other departments, Transpo-t and Public Works. “I mtend in have a look at the electrical question next, said Mr Semple. ‘I intend Io put the searchlight of investigation on that, the same as I have co m cn tho other departments.” He added that there was r< om for great changes. Altogether Ihe Government had £30.000.000 invested in hydro-electric undertakings a big load for 1.500,000 people to shoulder, and he was not certain that they were getting the best service frm it. 2 sales department was one th-».t would have to be investigate! Ekvtrcity was a privilege that evrv man an 1 woman should enjoy, not it 4 he maximum cost, bur at the m n mum. He intended to take a run over to \ ictoria, and have a look at the s\s‘ m there, and h» also mentioned that two world-famous experts who had been invited to advise the Victorian State Government. on its •' c-tri nl distribution, were to be asked to givf their aid also 'o the Nc ■ Zenanc Government. After he brd o •t<no all the information he con’d. I,<» waj going to start and pu: things richt Re was going to reduce overhead c<v t - and bring down ?ke < os: Io ir.e ccnsumer. “That is our «. 1 < said, “and if we io not su ceod bun dreds of backoli ’k wives nil’ burr candles to their gr v?s. “These big sehjn’s ore gZ ;o I considered if ?T?’.v Zealand is to po reed onward .<ni upward.” Mr Sem pie said tfuZ .-o fr he I:.id rot Ivc ♦ime to touch fringe of » u e preb lem, but he iiZevmd *o ret io th< bottom of it. f n l/< efforts he .M»»ded to exploit the best br-.—'s in th: world. While borp Mr Semple inspect ec the railway works, and de light at the progress. The Mohak? Viaduct wou'd be finkbeo in abca eight months at :he present rate • progress, t.uis the ]bd between Wairoa and Napier