MR. SEMPLE SPEAKS ON ELECTRICITY

Chronicle (Levin), 6 September 1946, Page 5

MR. SEMPLE SPEAKS ON ELECTRICITY

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FIRST KARAPIRO UNIT STARTS NEXT WINTER

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\ 1 .* f-..- 5* - ' Figfifes poweit' jVqre •qUQt.e.d: by..'t.h;g:.-5yfi^s4ety otf 1 Wcirks, 'iiWflie 1 tives tonight. *■ _ y _ \ Mr. Semple said lie di;d nofe1 qbj'Oet. to Mr. Goosman's"critrcisnf;'bf tlib previous eveuing concerning' the hvdro-electric scliemes but it was incorrect to say tliat when Karapiro was completed in 1948, it would have taken ten years because Karapiro construction did not start until 1940. The Government showed courage to nndertake sucli a scherne during the war. Mr. Semple said he anticipated with conlidence tliat the tirst machine generating 30,000 kilowatts, would go into operation at Karapiro next wintei tliough that figure would be reduced by the 10,000 kilowatts being generated by the old station of Horahora which would go out of operation when the lake was tilled. Two other machines at Karapiro, eaeh. generating 30,000 kilowatts, would follow the operation of the tirst at intervals of three months. The development on Waikaremoana known as Kaitawa, would come in shortly after the winter of 1947 and would actually develop 43,000 horsepower, not 21,000 horse-power as stated by the member for Waikato. The best and cheapest auxiliary plant Xew Zealand eould have was an additional state hydro-electric station and the renredy was to push on as quickly as possible tvitli our main hydro scliemes. By the winter of 1947 the pJant available would be increased to 520,000 liorse-power aud this should easily earry the load anticipated by the Member for Waikato, and by the winter of 1948 tlre plant would be increased to 643,000 horse-power and it was further anticipated that at least two units, making 96,000 hotse-power, would be available from Maraetai foi the winter of 1950. Mr. Semple said that if Lake Taupo' level had not been raised and syphons installed at Waikairemoana, North Island industries would have collapsed and the North Island would have faeed *a real calamity. "PFSre was -still -a Tik'l^ so far as the future was concefned unless construction could be speeded up.