The Dominion WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1920. POWER FROM WATER

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 266, 4 August 1920, Page 6

The Dominion WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1920. POWER FROM WATER

• Satisfactory evidence was afforded at yesterday's conference of hydro-electric boards that, the great and promising enterprise with which these bodies are concerned is beginning to receive the public attention it deserves. A still more representative conference ought to be possible in the near future, for it is now abundantly clear that the hai\ nesEing of water-power is an undertaking of capital importance from tho standpoint, of all sections of tho population, whether in town or country, and essentially an undertaking which calls, at the outset for foresight and good.planning. Fortunately it is possible in promoting hydro-electric development to break away definitely from the 'mistaken and inefficient methods which in the past history of the Dominion, have done so much to impede tho progress of development works and aqd needto their cost. The whole enterprise is in its infancy. The fifty thousand horse-power at present j generated represents only a I fraction of the electrical p'ower which would find an instant market if it were available. Plans 'drafted by Mit. Evan'Parry provido for an initial generation of 160,000 horsepower in the North Island alone. The indication thus given that there, is scope for the immediate development of something over 300,000 hompower in the Dominion as a whole marks only a beginning, and is far from measuring ultimate possibilities in .the_ effective utilisation of hydro-electric power. There is no doubt that electrical power mado available at reasonable cost will not only replace much power now derived from coal and oil, but will bo turned to new uses in industry, transport, and the home, and thus will find an ever-increasing market. Even within the limits that are set for the time being, the harnessing of water-power is an undertaking of impressive magnitude. Tho' Minister of Public Works (Mr. Coates) yesterday foreshadowed an cxperi'difcure of twonty millions sterling or more by the Government (throughout the Dominion) in establishing .generating stations and main transmission lines. To this is to be added "an expenditure approximately equal in amount" by the local authorities entrusted with the task of distributing power to consumers. This means an expenditure of'sonieforty millions in carrying out the hydro-electrical scheme as it is at present planned. Though tho outlay involved is formidable, it seems to be very clearly established that the country cannot afford to dally any longer in making effective use of its water-power. In addressing the conference yesterday, Mr. Coates estimated that-a fairly complete supply of hydro-electric, power would permit an annual saving of nearly four millions sterling in fuel consumption. His estimate of a saving of 1,250,000 tons of coal (worth £3,000,000) is no doubt conservative, for Mb. Parry estimated that in the North Island alone 1,000,000 tons of coal would be saved by the use of hydro-electric power. The possibility of reducing the annual consumption of mineral oil by half (at an annual saving of £560,000) is all the more important in view of the likelihood that the present serious shortage of oil may become more acute as time goes on. The experience of other countries suggests that the Minister is probably> within the mark in assuming that the gain from the application of hydro-electric power to ■ electrochemical manufactures, smelting and other industries, and to new uses in > the home will at least equal the' initial saving in fuel. ' • / Sound economy evidently demands that hydro-electrical development should be pressed forward with the utmost energy. There is an incentive to rapid development not only in y the great benefits and profits to be derived from the completed ischeme, but in the necessity ,of limiting to a minimum the period in which the capital sunk is producing no return. Enormous any case must be sunk before revenue is obtained, and it is thus of cardinal importance that the whole undertak-

mg 1 should bo so planned as to make the period of non-productive development as short as possible. In - this respect, and particularly in facilitating the close co-ordination between the Government and local power boards on which the efficient progress of the undertaking must largely depend, yesterday's conference ought to servo a-•useful purpose. In the main the policy mapped out by the Minister seems fairly to meet the case. The creation of a special branch of the Public Worltß Department to deal with the construction of hydro-electric works is evidently well-advised. It seems very desirable also that immediate effect should be given to the remit, approved by the conference, which urges the immediate appointment of a board to advise and assist the Minister in regard to all aspects of hvdro-electric development. It has already been intimated that a board will ultimately be set up to deal with the disposal of current, but the stage of development also seems to call for the advice of business exports as well as that of engineers It goes without saying that the'policy of the undertaking, first and last, must be determined bv the Gov. eminent and Parliament,'but there is scope for useful work l»v an advisory board in assisting to'plan tli<-. undertaking to the best advantage, and so that it will produce the speediest and most profitable returns, as well as in providing tor its efficient management when it is m working operation, The Minister is to be unreservedly commended? for his uncompromising opposition to the proposal that there should bo in some cases a departure from the direct election of members of power boards. The work of administration in power districts is much too important to bo entrusted to anv makeshift authority, and clearly ought to be carried out bv representatives directly responsible to the ratepayers. Objections might be raised on somewhat similar grounds to a proposal approved by the conference that power boards bo empowered, instead of levying rates, to levy contributions upon the local authorities of constituent districts. Presumably, however, if hydro-elec-tric development and distribution f\ r e efficiently carried out they will impose no new burden on the ratepayers, but will rank easily as selfsupporting reproductive works,