NATURAL POWER HOUSE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 29, 16 May 1947, Page 9

NATURAL POWER HOUSE

GENERATION FROM THERMAL STEAM ; ) * PROPOSAL IN ROTORUA A proposal that the Borough Council apply to the appropriate State Department for a licence to generate electricity by the use of thermal steam and for the sale of the power to consumers in the borough was put forward by the Mayor, Mr P. A. Kusabs, at the last meeting of the council and given enthusiastic approval. In presenting his motion, the Mayor said that the present shortage of hydro-electricity was a national disaster that must inevitably lower our standard of living through loss .of production. The plan would give us the opportunity of meeting our national difficulties and at the same time would not increase our indebtedness. The plant could be ordered from Italy through England as reparations; we would thereby liquidate some of our indebtedness to Britain, who would also be relieved of the necessity of sending electrical equipment which she badly wanted herself. As the Italians had had the experience, we would profit by it. The Mayor said he understood the Government had a full report on the system and this should be made available to the council. One plant in Italy was capable of generating 120,000 k.v.a., the capacity of Arapuni. The motion was agreed to.