NOT GENERATING PLANT AT ALL.

Chronicle (Levin), 18 June 1947, Page 6

NOT GENERATING PLANT AT ALL.

CHRISTCHURCH, June 17. Government inquiries in the United States showed that no generating plant of the type described by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, was available for New Zealand, said Mr. Sempie yesterday. The Government looked before it leaped, a course lie would -advis-e the Chamber to take. The Chamber had claiined that a complete 30,000 kilowatt electrical generating plant was available in the States. ' ' The Government lost no time in investi'gating this story," Mr. Sempie said. "It found no such plant. Wliat is available is a 30,000 kilowatt turbine without generator, boiler, switchgear or transformers and in fact not a generating plant at all. The turbine would not be the slightest use in New Zealand in present p i rc.u iqg t aii c e s . The most detailed ;inf orniatian is that the plant was offered1 ih the first- place'-'to* the San Prancisco Chamber of Commerce and by it io-"the Auckland- Chamber. ' ' TheAMjiiister said the turbine was olfere'd. foh'sale" af '"163,000 dollars. 1 1 It is difficujt.to se.q? how tjiis cculd be conf uSbd; Wi'tJh .' 3)000,000 • dollars that - would bd^jasketf' fo-|;!a complete power i'station of -the type that would ineludq. a jthrbin^?/ i No' coiiiplete unit^are imtdeuiately 'available in United States and the placing of a contract with the makers is the jonly means of qbtaining. a -large unit sGitable to New Zealand. Many countries, including United Kingdom, India and South American States, have been- engaged in a similar. search but complet-e plants are just not avail able," the Minister concluded.