No Excuse New For Further Power Shortages

Chronicle (Levin), 10 April 1947, Page 7

No Excuse New For Further Power Shortages

-press Association-

By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, April 9. . Cabled iniormatioii from United States that diesel engines capable of produeing 9600 kilowatts vvere available for immediate delivery and that new lieavy duty diesel electric plants to the ex-aet speeifications required in this eountry, could be obtained in eight or nine months at a cost of about £24 a kilowatt, iias been reeeived by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. ' I11 a statement issued today the chamber said it had made wideinquiries for suitable standby generating plants of a capacity that could effectively relieve the present shortage. Recent remarks of the Minister in charge of the State Hydro-Electricity Department, Mr. Semple, that 110 suitable plant was available from Ameriea two to three years ago, did not reflect the true position today. Had the eight generators been saved from the Horahora station, means could no doubt have been found to drive them with large diesel engines which could be shipped immediately from San Francisco, instcad of by water 'power, continued the statement. I Two additional generators with a ■ combined capacity of 3400 kilojwatts from , the King's Wharf ' power station had recently been sold as scrap. Admittedly they I wero old and not in use because oi' ithe shortage of coal but they could have been converted to diesel power.

"Taking the longer view, the ( availability in eight or nine months of new diesel generating 1 equipment built to New Zealand speeifications, would permit the installation of auxiliary plant to a minimum of 50,000 kilowatts, " added the statement. "That would avoid a repetition of the calamitous power shortage of this year which might otherwise be expeeted pending the eompletion of the Maraetai scheme. The plant would require mueh less capital outlay than the corresponding hydro-electric development and would always be available foi standby purposes to cope with peak loadings $11* 4ajiy nationai calamity such as a drouglit, earthquake or w.ar which would put out 'of actio'ri the Ambitioiis series of hydroTeicCtric schemes planned for the Waikato Rh'er, fi ' "As the State" Hydro-Electric Departmeut'wlll np longer be able to deiiy the availability of large ■md suitable auxiliary generating plants from IJnited States, the (lovcrnment should act without lcla.v and purcluisc the necessary diesel units and reversc its policy ■ refusing power boards their right to instal arid run auxiliary plants." declared the Chamber. "If it fails now the department will have poor excuses to olfer whcn shortages loom up even worse in 1948-50."

Most eountry areas li.ave imposed • restrictions on "electric watei heaters in addition-to disconnoctions made during periods of the day and night. The result has generally been that the reduced alloeations were only slightly exceeded last week' and in a few areas the conspmptipn was under the quota. Tlie. autliprities pointed out that the Easter holiclays had helped greatly; to keep down the consumptioil aiid they hoped consumers would liojt .get a false sense of security about the position when further economy was necessary.. The boards, in serving the^ farming districts, have _endeavoured to avoid interrupting work in dairy factories and milking sheds.