HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 158, 23 March 1918, Page 3

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

SCHEME IN OTAGO

EXPANSION LEAGUE AT WORK

Schemes for the development of hy-dro-electric power were considered at a meeting of tiio Otago Expansion Leaguo in Dunedin on Wednesday. i\Lr. Rhodes, who introduced the subject, said it was their duty to consider the feasibility of creating a combined area, comprising Otago, Southland, and as much of South Canterbury as might bo thought (it to go into the scheme of generating elcctrical energy from Lake Hawea or from other sources, to deliver such energy at a flat rate to each borough, township, .or public body, including harbour boards, leaving public bodies to do their own roticulabon. The Bill to go before Parliament this session, if passed, would give them power to create rating areas, and it would be utilised for obtaining the necessary finance af\ter careful investigation had shown that financial success was fairly secure.

■ What had especially attracted him to the co-opsrative aspect of the various electrical schomcs ww the large capital outlay in icattered districts. Unless something on those lines was. attempted the irrigation of the backblocks and sEorago battery depots would be a long time iu coming to the country districts. There were possibilities of opening up the West Coast by a lino through the Haast Pass, and there were prospects <,-f creating further facilities for opening up the Ut>per Clutha. Cheap power from Lake Wanska might indueo a revival of mining. It certainly would be an encouragerjei'.t for the establishment of wool-scouring works. Its influence on the spread of industries should riot be lost sight of, but they should not be too optimistic. The distribution of power to small users would be very expensive, and unless the Government was prepared to take power for the railways he was afraid this would bo a scheme too ambitious for them to tackle.

Mr. Rhodes added that the woollen industry in Germany and the silk industry of France l'.ad bpen developed by Yorkshiremen, who had been induced to go to those countries by the cheap facilities'provided for the extension of industries. Yorkshiremen would come here if cheap power was available. His main :'-ica was to amalgamate the whole the iuterosts of Otago and Southland, and brine'in a big comprehensive Echemo which would supply such districts • as Roxburgh, Cromwell, Balclutha, Oamaru, and Gore with power to their boundaries at a Hat rate. T(iey coulr! undertake their own reticulation. The possible new users of power would bs the owners of shearing plantSj thrashing mills, and the Railway Department. The manufacture of calcium carbide and nitrogenous manures might be undertaken.

The assertion had been made that the Bowen Falls provided more economical conditions for this purpose than any other scheme, pnd.if this was 30 it was advisable to have the scone of inquiry wide enough to permit of reliable reports being obtained on this scheme also. Assuming that the initial installation of 30,000 b.h.p. by the Lake "Hawea scheme would cost £1,500,000, and allowing another £75,000 for depreciation and £30,000 for salaries, maintenance, wages, and renewals, and then assume that 20,000 b.h.p. was sold.at 3d. per unit, the revonue per annum would bo £1,507/JOO. He was convinced that a. good payable scheme could be inaugurated.