ARAPUNI DEFENDED.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18778, 28 October 1932, Page 2

ARAPUNI DEFENDED.

MINISTER’S RE-ASSURANCE. HE VIEW OF POSTS A EARN I NOS. A NATIONAL ASSET. (Speoial to Times.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. Expressing the hope that the publication of facts and figures would tend to allay alarm and confusion Which had been associated with the Arapunl hydro-electric undertaking the Hon. C. E. Macmillan, acting:'Minister of Public Works, placed before the House of Representatives tonight ah up-to-date catalogue of construction and operating costs and the generating capacity of the works. Arapunl was generating 80,000 horsepower at a cost of £32 5s per horsepower, said the Minister. "MUch criticism,’* said Mr Macmillan, “has been levelled at the Government because it installed hydro-elec-tric plants, There has been a great deal of confusion of thought and the belief has been held that the- undertakings are expensive and extravagant. Of course they are a good deal ahead of their time, but it would be far mbre expensive if we had to increase them as the demand expanded. An almost Complete answer to those who say 'that the Government would have been better advised to install steam plants is cohtained in the fact that quite recently on the West Coast, where there is a coal generated plant at a pits mouth, the people have seen fit to put ih hydro generating plants.” • Referring to the position at Arapuni, the. Minister said that no i unit was more or less put of action. There had been some difference of opinion in engineering circles as to whether it was out of balance, or as to whether the foundations were secure. Engineering opinion now tended to the view that it was out of balance. He Was unable to say whether that was the case or not.

No Cause for Alarm. As far as the reoent fractured headrace was concerned there was no cause fob alarm. If it were essential in future for engineers to relieve pressure on the surrounding country by making a diversion capable of taking the extra volume of water so that the pressure would toe relieved, the department would still be in the positlbfl of having put in a plant that Would generate 80,000 horse-power at a cost of £32 5s per horseypower. T. ■ “The engineers of the Public Works Department,” said tile Min-

t lstef, "have nothing up their sleeves, i and place their cards face up on the t table, but they do resent prejudiced

statements made by men who are not 'prepared to investigate the- position properly." , \.

Favourable comparison With Overseas. The Minister said the present cai jpaolty of Arapunl was 80,000 horsepower, the present load toeing 60,000 The cost including in- ■' terest during construction up to March 31 last was £32 5s per horse- ; power. At its present Capacity it supplied the whole of Auckland province and if it were extended to its full and ultimate capacity of 160,000 horse-power, the estimated cost would : be £2l 2b per horse-power. The average of all New Zealand plants, both fuel and water, was £39 ’ 7s per horse-power Waipori (Dun- • edln) of 24,500 horse-power., lnelud- , ing steam and oil standbys, cost £37 Is per horse-power, whereas at - Queenstown (Niagara) 553,000 horsepower .plant, cost £29 7s per horse- •. power, and at Ontario (Niagara), a 161,000 liorsc-power plant cost £2B is per horse-power. All Government power schemes in operation up to March 3i last, earned 7M per cent' over the net operating expenses for the . year, or,. after allowing for depreciation, they made a profit of £37,000. According to latest Teturns the electrio supply system generally had paid interest and operating expenses and provided £612,267 in reserves, of which £159,910 had already 'been Utilised by the Treasury for the redemption of the loans which had formed the original capital. The Minister said he hoped that the facts and figures which had been given \votild prove to the people of Ne\v Zealand that they were getting the benefit as a result of the courage and determination of tho officers of the Rublio Works Department, to put the Job through, and he was satisfied that the nation had a valuable asset in Arapunl. lie was satisfied that the utmost care had been taken by the officers of the department In selecting the site at Arapuni. The Minister invited members interested to avail themselves at any time of detailed information in possession Qi the department.