HYDRO-ELECTRICITY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 202, 21 May 1920, Page 8

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY

HUTT STATION AS STAND-BY FOR CITY PROGRESS LEAGUE'S SCHEME

Mr G. Mitchell, M.P., organiser of ! tile Central progress League, writes as 1 under:— ■ "In reference to the advocacy by the Central Progress League of pushing on ' the development of hydro-electric energy, including the harnessing of the Hutt '■ River as a stand-by for Wellington city, 1 appreciate the many letters and ar- \ tides in tho Press both for and against our proposals. They all serve a useful pnrposo in bringing tho position before 1 tho public, and focussing attention on ; the urgency of and benefits to bo derived from the utilisation of tho tremen--1 dous resources of power at present going to waste. ' ' "Many people take mo to task in assuming that I oppose Mr, Parry's proposals in bringing forward the merits of the Hutt River scheme. Perhaps I have failed to make tho attitude of the Central Progress League plain. Let me re-state it:— "1. To urge, the completion of Mangahao, with all possible speed, '"i. To develop Waikaremoana, in or- ' dor that these powers may be interlinked. in accordance with Mr. Parry's scheme, at the earliest possible date. 1 "These two sources of supply would provide all the power required in the districts concerned for many years to conic: but, if both sources of supply are 1 harnessed it will still bo necessary for the city to have a stand-by plant in eaau of a breakdown in these hydro-electric powers. The City Council, .realising tins necessity, has decided on a very large expenditure for the improvement of it*' eteam-power plant. On account of tho probable rise in the cost of coal and labour, and the uncertain supply of both, tho Central Progress League is ardently supporting the Hutt River power scheme, in preference to any proposal to extend the present system of power supply, which is expensive to run to-day, and iri connection with which the chief factors, coal and labour, arc always likely to hecome dearer and uncertain of supply. We therefore advocate the development of Ihe Hutt River ns a stand-by source of power for Wellington city and the Hutt Valley. "Messrs. Hay and Yickerman' state that tho Hutt River would develop EOOO-h.p. at a cost of .£45 per h.p.—that this would save the City Council ,£50,000 per year, ;in comparison with steam p:wer generated by coal. This is a clear and definite statement of policy. It has not, so far, been answered in_ the Press. The Central Progress League is r.ot committed or biased in any way. All that we seek is the early supply of cheap pow-sr to our ciiv and district, but until we are shown that a further extension of steam power is moro in the interests t.he eitv than the development of the ■Hutt River scheme, we must continue to sunnort the latter. "The questions of the height of tho dam. danger from earthquake, suitability of the ground, and interference with railway deviation are purely technical matters, and' have been faced and provided for by l the engineers concerned. The land required by the Hutt River scheme already belong to the Crown, having been acquired for this purposo 60me years ago. • "We n."e in. entire agreement with the Press in advocating that a body of teprt•sentative engineers should go thoroughly into this question and advise tho people unon the points at issue: "1. W'U it be necessary, when Mang.v hao is deve!oned, and later on Waikaremoaim, for the city to have a 6tand>by power nlant? "2. If so, is it in the best interests of the citv to extend the present steamgenerating plant, or to develop the hvdro-electric resources of the Hutt River? ... "The nuestion of comoarative time or construction, initial ond running costs, and other points would, naturally, be the big consideration. The first cost of the Hutt River scheme would, no doubt, be greater, but the running cost per annum would, according to Messrs. Hay and Yickerman, savo the corporation at least .£50,000 per year. A cony of the report of Messrs. Hay and Yickerman lias been sent on to the City Council and/will, no doubt, receive its serious consideration."