STAND-BY POWER FOR HUTT VALLEY

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 154, 25 March 1939, Page 15

STAND-BY POWER FOR HUTT VALLEY

Board Chairman’s Opinion On Necessity

With the completion of additions and improvements being made by the Public Works Department, including a new unit, at Waikureiuoana, there was little chance of a “black-out” iu the supply of electrical power to the Hutt Valley, said the ehairman. Mr. A. W. Press, at Thursday’s meeting "of the Hutt \ allot Electric Power Board. He said that he considered after investigation that tlie provision of a stand-by plant would lie unnecessary.

The board adopted Mr. Press's report on the matter. Later, it also approved of the engineer-general manager, Mr; E. F. Hollands, preparing a report on the provision of a stand-by plant for industrial concerns and on the extension of the 'Wellington city stand-by plant at Evans Bay to include the board’s area.

Mr. S. Blackley, on whose suggestion the report on a stand-by was made, said that attention had been called to a possible power shortage in the North Island this year or next. This possibility was being investigated and not for the fun of it. There was a real risk of shortage. His chief complaint about the shut-down earlier this year was that while 'Wellington had a standby and supplied itself, the Hutt Valley could not. 'The board’s engineer should give a considered report, even if its preparation took months, on the necessity for a stand-by.

■ Mr. R. W. Bothamley suggested that an arrangement should be made with Wellington city for an extension to the Evans Bay stand-by. Mr. Press said he had sufficient confidence in the department to believe that it would take care of the increased load.