HYDRO-ELECTRICITY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 98, 20 January 1920, Page 3

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY

QUESTION OF DISTRIBUTION.

(Special Correspondent.)

Palmerston North, January 19. On Saturday aitornbou, Mr. L, Birks, Chief Government Electrical Engineer, \ paid a visit to Woodvillo and Pahiatua. At. tho former place ho met tho representatives of the local. bodies and Uie dairy factories in the district. Mr. 6. 1). Macfarlane, a member of tho Woodvillc County Council, and chairinau of the Riverside Cheese Company, presided, and there was a largo attendance. The chairman said that ho had suggested that Woodvillo Borough and the County Council should combine in a scheme for the reticulation of the district as a whole, and Mr. Birks appeared, to approve of the proposal. These two bodiea could combine in obtaining a loan of, say, .£30,000, the amount which probably would he required for the reticulation of tho whole district if thoy wanted to Bet their share of the power which would be available when the Mangahno scheme was complete. Mr, Birks, who was most cordially received, pointed out that the Department nas not yet out on a campaign to sell power on a large scale, as they were still in tho construction stage. Ho explained at length what had been done in connection with the Lake Coleridge schema in Canterbury, but he declined to discuss at that time tho possibilities of tho power. The Goverumnnt would supply tho power in bulk, and did not wish, to go in for retail business if this could be avoided. In Canterbury they sup; I pliod retail in a limited area, but Pofc Systematically, as they considered that was the function of tho local budies He explained the system adopto.i ui Canterbury of selling by tint Government, mid tho distribution of tho power by local bodies. He offered to supply copies of his annual report showing th« capital outlay, tho revenue and expenditure, and other particulars, as well as a copy of an article lie was writing on tho subject. This vear, he pointed out, they 'would bo doing substantially better in Canterbury as regards the operations. Without making any survey or examination of tho locality, he thought the position was somewhat similar m tho . Woodvillo district. In Christcburch the Department aupnliecl the distributing local bodies with poles, insulators, etc., at cost price plu3 10 per cent. They bought first from the Department until they got oa their feet, afterwards purchasing on their own. The iJepa.-tmcit sMvcd (hem their stock sheets, supplied them with specifications, cud assisted them generally. As to cost, Hie electrical current'was very much cheaper Hum anything else. In support of this, he instanced the, very luw chnjjge* for power for milking machines, aim the lighting for cow-houses, stables, and other outbuildings, which worked %t at either a few shillings per monvli, oTr a few pounds per annum. In the country districts the Department avoided selling by meter.. It would be some time before tho Mangahao scheme was ready to supply, but Palmerston North was already taking steps to put down a plant. In . referring to the fact that Woodvillo had municipally-owned gasworks, Mr.. Birks pointed out that the introduction of electricity never adversely affected the demand for gas. As a proof of this, ho cited the cases of the boroughs of Lyttelton and Sumner, both of which had their own gasworks. While electricity took everv light and motor away from gas, the latter had the advantage over the former in cooking. He was afraid that the supply of electricity from Mnngahao was some distance olf, but when the Deuartincnt was actually ready tliev would send an expert around the district to give the necessary advice. Tliev did not wish to take any work out "of the hands of consulting engineers in connection with the reticulation and installation. Mr. Birks explained that Palmerston North borough was putting in a gas producer plant, utilising coko to give the power to generate electricity, until such time as the town was switched on to the Mangahno scheme proper, and pointed out that the snmo results could not bo expected from this as from water power. After some discussion as to the advisability of putting in producer plants until the Mangahao scheme was ready, the chairman pointed out that any plant they might put in now would have to , bo a very large and expensive one. If they did that they would have tho whole of tho district reticulated, and it would bo ultimately a case of transferring from their own power to that -| from the Mangahno. Mr. Birks said he estimated tho cost of* such a plant at from J!25 to JJ3O jut horse-power, or a total cost of about i 15,000. He pointed out that he had merely mentioned what Palmerston North was doing in the matter, and he would not say that it would pay Woodvillo to put in a similar plant, hut die reticulation would be very useful ■ when the main scheme came into operation. While not committing the Department, he assured those pro.sent that they would receive due consideration. In rnnlv to a question from the chairman Mr. Birks said that if the suggested scheme worn put into operation, il, should be ready in from 15 to 18 months. . ~ On the motion of tho chairman, a heartv vole of thanks was passed to Mr. Birks.