STEAM OR HYDRO POWER ?

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3029, 16 March 1917, Page 6

STEAM OR HYDRO POWER ?

AND THE TRAMWAY SERVICE.

The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) and the City Engineer- and tramways manager (Mr. W. H. Morton) will visit Lake C-oleridge on March 26, in company Hith the Government Electrical' Engineer (Mr. E. Parry), for the purpoao of making themselves acquainted with details of hydro-electric' power. Afterwards they will visit Auckland, where the steam electric service is stated to he in a high stage of efficiency, in order that tho fullest information as to the cost and capacity of the rival schemes may be thoroughly considered h.v the counoil.

The Mayor was asked yesterday if, in view of the fact that it would be some time before a hydro-electric scheme could be brought into operation, tho council proposed l to extend or improve its steam plant. The Mayor replied that tho tramways and lighting power stations were now working up to their full capacity, but no extension' would Ijo made while the war was on. Extensions of the car service which had beeu made recently were of a necessary character, but the tendency now was more to a- restriction of the service than its improvement. In tho interests of national efficiency the suggestion was being made that suoh works should be kept to the 'minimum consistent with efficiency. In any case, the council could not commence an extension scheme, since material was not available. Some time ago the council had considered making additions i to tho power, but had been unable to obtain the machinery irom Great Britain.