AMAZING ADVANCE

Evening Star, Issue 19805, 2 March 1928, Page 2

AMAZING ADVANCE

0 ELECTRICITY FOR ALL DOMIKMS LEAD " It is ten years since the Electric Power Boards Act came into force. R required foresight to conceive it and gallantry of spirit to go through with it. The pioneers in tho electric power development in New Zealand had the character that risks something for an ideal, and they had the vision that sees far off the end of a tangled road.” Those remarks prefaced tho review of electric power development in the dominion made by Air C. Campbell when presiding over the conference of secretaries and executive officers of the Electric Power Boards and Supply Authorities’ Association of New Zealand. “ 'Hie result has been amazing progress,” continued Air Campbell, “Industries, homes, and districts have become revitalised by the miracle of electricity. How much tho > general availability of cheap electric power lias meant to the industrial expansion of the dominion can hardly be told. Hundreds, or perhaps thousands of petrol engines and steam engines have been replaced by motors with a. large saving to the user. The relative reduction in tho amount, of imported petrol due to this cause means a favorable contribution to our balance of trade. The following figures, which are For tho financial year ended Alarch 31, 1927, relate, solely to power boards. They are certainely illuminating. They indicate more forcibly than anything I can say tho magnitude of tho business which to a large extent is under our extensive care. STAGGERING FIGURES. “Total capital outlay £9,463,138: Loan indebtedness (gross), £10,113,400. Accumulated sinking fund £501,643. Annual loan charges: Interest £576,758. Sinking fund £137,178. Revenue: Sale of power, £1,244,014, Other £134,296. Total, £1,378,310. Expenditure: Operating expenses £458,970, other working expenses £165,560. Capital charges, etc., £673,163. Total, £1,324,693. Capital expenditure during year, £1,674,538. Employees and wages; Administrative and clerical, number 381, salaries paid £87,654; other employees, number 808, wages paid £201,337. In addition to the above data relating to employees, the sum of £198.326 was expended on temporary and casual labor during tho year, tho number of such employees actually in the employ of boards at Alarch ’3l, 1927, being' 717.

“ Electricity is now available to more than 9() per cent, of the population of New Zealand. Some 15,000 route piiles of electric distribution linos have been erected.

“Including ihe Government plants there are forty-eight public electric power stations in New Zealand. “There are approximately 100 electricity distributing authorities in New Zealand, “Taking into account (ho Government schemes some £19,000,000 has been invested in Now Zealand in generating and distribution systems, “ The wiring np of consumers’ premises would probably run into another £4,600,000.” Mr Campbell went on to say that the ideal position in regard to the retail distribution of electricity would be to have one supply authority for each district, this involving in sonic eases the amalgamation of existing sinall boards, and in other cases tho electrical systems of boards and municipal authorities. NEED FOR KEEPING' UP-TO-DATE.

Touching upon the future improvements in supply,- Mr Campbell said: — “Duo to the progressive spirit of our boards and the resourceful work of the officers there has been built up a wonderfully efficient organisation to manage the administration end of the electrical industry; and it has been done in the space of a few years. Fine as this performance has been, however, it is, perhaps, the proper time to suggest that there might be ways or methods of improving our present administrative and relative systems. If there are, of course, we wish to know about them. The most highly organised electrical systems and associations are to be found in America and Canada. All one needs to do to be convinced of this is to peruse the proceedings of the National Electrical Light Association of America. This is what I wish the conference to consider—whether the time has arrived when we should recommend the New Zealand Power Boards’ Association to arrange to send an officer abroad to investigate methods and office appliances and all matters likely to make for economy and simplicity in our methods and systems. On his return this officer would he required to confer with the main association and the secretaries’ committee, and thereafter to visit the various boards, go through their systems, and advise them as a result of his inquiries. Alternatively arrangements could be •made for a competent officer from the N.E.L.A. or Canada to copie to New Zealand to confer with ns, tune > up our systems, and bring ns right into touch with American- and other systems and office methods.”