HYDRO-ELECTRICITY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 181, 27 April 1920, Page 8

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY

LOCAL BODIES CONFER AT LEVIN AN INTERESTING PROGRESS REPORT /In pursuance of a resolution passed by tho Horowhenua County Council a conference was convened and held n't Lovin on Saturday with the object of considering the advisability or otherwise of forming an'electric power district for tho consumption of power from Mangahao when it is made available. Mr. 6. A. Monk, chairman' of - tho Horowhenua County Council, presided, and the following delegates from adjacent local bodies were prosent:—Messrs. D. W. Mat heson, F. E. Parker, and B. R. Gardoner

(Levin Borough Council), W. Murdoch and J. M'Millan (Shannon Borough

Council), J. Chrystall (Foxton Borough Council), Sir James Wilson and Messrs. W. Barber, H. H. Hunt, and K. Drew (Manawatu County Council), Cooper and Howell ' (Hutt County Council), _J. P. Brandon and, n. Nicolson (Otaki Town Board). Councillor Broadbeit and the county clerk (Mr. P. W. Goldsmith) also attended on 'behalf of the Horowhenua County Council. ■ In opening the meeting the chairman welcomed the delegates and added tjiat his council were of opinion that something should be done to make arrangements for receiving the current when it was due. It might be five or ten years before it was 6'witched on, but he felt that five years would be the outside time, and the district should certainly be fady to take it immediately. Otherwise the City of Wellington would sopn absorb anything'that could not be taken in tho country, and the district would find itself left with nothing. He had an impression that the Mangahao plant would develop considerably more power than the Government • expected, but nevertheless the amount would fall short of the requirements. There would foe none to spare,' and it behoved the district to . have everything in readiness. With its numerous flaxmills and dairy farms the district would consume a largo supply. He was sure that farmers would avail themselves of tho power if it was procurable at a reasonable price. "If a, number of districts combined under a board to recoive the power various economics .would result," said tho chairman. One engineer would be required, and the combined districts could be worked as a whole, which would, as had been proved in the South Island, to be much' more expeditious and econo-. m'ical than each district'working separately. Tho main point underlying it all 1 was to have community of interest, and lie felt that that would obtain in a,union of the district proposal.. He regretted very much that one of the Government electrical engineers was not present, so that delegates could obtain official and technical information. The Department had ic»eded to the council's request for an engineer to> attend the conference, but had unfortunately failed to send .one, • The question arose, as to where-.the main could be tapped,' and in how many plnces. '

■ The chairman replied that .he was uncertain, but if it could only bo tapped at' Levin tho district proposed would have •to be restricted. In that case' the Hntt rilisfirict would be better served from Wellington. Ho felt that a power bogrd frould' 1 resolve itself into a commercial enterprise; It would have' power to sell nnd would do so at a rate that would, he hoped, be favourable to all, and yet would'preclude the necessity of. saddling ratepayers with extra rates.

The undeveloped .power in the - Ohau and Hutt 'Rivers was mentioned by. Sir James Wilson. He suggested that it would not bo inadvisable to commence a complete reticulation of the whole proposed district. If Mansahao power was '•notsufficient the rivers he had mentioned could be harnessed. In either case, tho same Teticulafcion would be used. The Mansahao power, he felt'sure, would not be able to njeefc the demand. He instanced Tniihapo and Mangp.wek'a as towns where local requirements had been met at small outlay by harnessing adjacent streams. The outlay in the latter town amounted only to ,£IO.OOO. . In Wanganui there were two schemes under consideration at present. The matter of a uniform. rate of cost of supply for all • parts, of the district was brought up by a number present. The chairman explained the point of the peak load as it anplied to combined urban and Tnra.l districts, mentioning ■that dairy factories in the outlying parts would bo using the greatest amount 'of power when town concerns would be usintr the least.. . •

Some further discussion ensued, but it was generally conceded that no tiling definite could be done until a Government expert'could attend. The conference was accordingly adjourned until arrangements can lie made to have an engineer in attendance.

PROGRESS OF THE WORK,

EXECUTIVE'S REPORT.

The executive have prepared the. following report on the progress of the lan Kahao"With reference to the llangahao hydro-electric power scheme, your executive delayed their usual report, pending an inspection by the president. This has now been made, and'the accompanying • report is largely based on conclusions formed on his visit to tho works. Ho' was accompanied diy Mr. Nash, M.P.. and Colonel Mitchell, M.P. Mr. Field, MIP., had intended to accompany the party, but was unable to be present. . »

Labour.-'Abont GO men are at present at work, but this number is continually rising and falling, a very large number only staying a few days. We still think day labour should be increased to lGs., as, the present rates are below current rates ruling in the Dominion. . . . "Labour.—This is the key of the situation. So far as wo can learn, men accustomed to the work are not now complaining as to tho price offered for contract work. and for men willing to work Rood pay. is'available. . But the great drawback is tho accommodation, which is at present very insufficient. Nothing is available for men but tho ordinary tent, with no fireplace and no provision for drying clothes, etc. As you are aware thtj_ weather in the midst of the mountain is continually misty and often 'rainy, and such conditions are not conducive to comfort.' Tho only place tho men have to meet on wet days is in the cook house, which is scarcely possible to lise for tho pui-pose. It is intended, we understand, .to improve these conditions, without delay, but aa it is now a year since the work started, it is not altogether creditable to the Department that such an unsatisfactory position has been allowed to remain so long. As it is, it will bo scarcely possible to remedy tilings before winter is on, and we fully expect to hear of a further depletion of labour owing to dissatisfaction with the conditions. A word of praise should be given here to the Y.M.C.A., who have a live energetic secretary on tho spot in Ihe person of Mr. D. A. Morton. They have a large marqueo erected at the Tokomarn camp, nnd are doing their best to provide a little social life for tho men. Mr. Morton would welcome gifts of literature, etc., and we strongly endorso his plea. Any gifts of money, otc., forwarded to Mr. Morton, care of Mangahno works, Shannon, would 'bo used by. him for tho benefit of the men in fitting up marquees, etc. While, however, giving all credit to tho Y.M.0.A., your committee feel this matter should have been attended to earlior by tho Department, Under present day conditions it is useless to expect to keep up a sufficient labour force unless tho conditions of life for the men outside, of working' hours are reasonably satisfactory) nnd we have no hesitation at all in stating emphatically that at present that is not the case at Mangahao. This is particularly unfortunate, as at present 200 to 300 men could bo easily and profitably employed. It seems to us now advisable that tho Department should put on its own teams, instead of depending entirely on hired teams, which are not available in sufficient numbers. Four times tho number now at work could lie profitably used.'

"Your committee cannot but repeat the disappointment expressed in their previous reports re tho'slow progress being made with this groat national undertaking. While recognising the drawbacks the Department are labouring under, owing to abnormal labour conditions, shortage of materials, etc., we are still of ('pinion greater progress could and should have'been made. 'Too much time is wasted in decisions on small matters,

and nocessary supplies are unduly delayed. "Wo commend to the notice of tho now Minister for Public Works tho slate of affaire at Mangnhao and tho blow progress being made, feeling sure tlwt ho will take the matter in hand, knowing as wo do, he is fully advised as to the great need of the • provision of hydro-electric power to enablo a fuller devolonmcnt of tho economic and industrial life of the nation, more especially in view of tho troublous times which ntust come when, the present time of inflation ends."