STOPPAGE AT ARAPUNI!

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18068, 10 July 1930, Page 9

STOPPAGE AT ARAPUNI!

TWO YEARS AT LEAST.

RE-START AT HUNTLY SUGGESTED

The engineer-manager of the Central Electric Power Bbard, Mr J. R. Ellis, reporting to the Board on the conference AA'ith the Minister of Public Works, Hon. W. B. Traverner, concerning future supplies in the Waikato, stated:— In his statement the Minister announced that the Auckland POAA-er Board had decided to instal an additional 15,000 k.v.a. unit at King’s Avharf station, Avhich would be ready for operation in May, 1931, and the Department would proceed with the erection of a unit of similar capacity somewhere near the Waikato coal mines, Avhich, if suitable plant Avas available from the manufacturers on short notice, would be in operation in about 12 months’ time. . The Minister did not think that Arapuni Avould be in commission for at least tAvo years, but this, he pointed out, was only his own opinion, as the report of the engineers Avas not yet available.

These arrangement for additional poAver, would not help the position this season. It seemed from figures supplied by the Department that there Avould still be available about 2000 k.v.a. over and above the recent allocation to meet the increased demand caused by the milking load. In addition to this, representatives of the Auckland Power Board stated that their Board would be able to help to a considerable extent as the days lengthened and their peak load dropped. The most difficult period would be during the next two months, when milking machines Avould be Avorking and little reduction Avould have taken place in the Auckland Power Board’s demand. Plant Available. The Department considered that if strict economy was observed in the use of electricity, the milking load could be handled Avithout undue interruption. Everything possible Avould be done to accomplish this. The Minister stated that he Avas prepared to spend a few hundred pounds in assisting to put in operation any available standby plants owned by supply authorities. In view of this, the matter of putting the Board’s Huntly station into operation Avas receiA'ing consideration. When in Wellington, the Chief Electrical Engineer AA'as interviewed, and it appeared that the Department had plant available which could be used at Huntly, if necessary, and Avhich Avould be loaned to the Central Power Board.