ELECTRIC POWER FOR WESTLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1927, Page 1

ELECTRIC POWER FOR WESTLAND

MELTING AT All A Iil ; If A. The first district consumers meeting in connection with the supply of elected ity in the Westland Power Hoard’s ai -a was held in the Arahura Valley Hail last evening when the district was \cry fully represented by the attendance ol twenty-five farmers. Mr B. Wjitrd, M.C.C.. and a member of the Power ILuird. who presided, outlined the activities and policy of the Power Board front its inception five years ago, and explained, as a member of the Board, the care which had been exercised in protecting the ratepayers of the area against a liability to rating. He also described the negotiations which had resulted in tlie arrangement between tlie Board aiul the Company which will undertake the supply to consumers in the area between- Teremakau and Totara Hi vers, pointing out that the supply is governed bv the regulations of the Public Works Department, tlie required standard of power-being thus assured. The Chairman then introduced Mr .1. S. Langford representing the Company, who gave an outline of the scheme tor developing the water races. recently purchased from the Government by the Power Board, together with a description of the transmission lines which will feed the Kumara, Arahura. Kniiiori, Kokatahi and Koiterangi districts. Before going on into the details of electricity supply for a farming community, the speaker briefly surveyed the field for the application of electric power for sawmilling, flaxmilling and mining operations. Explaining that in the case of these industries the extra efficiency resulting front the use of electricity often made profitable operation possible where it would not he otherwise. Deference was also made to the use of the power supply by small alluvial mining parties whose properties have been worked be- 1 yond the reach of a. water supply gravitated to the field. In referring to the rates to he charged for electrical energy, it was pointed out that tlie advantages of development would lie passed over to the public in the form of cheap power, and that although ihe Company's license stipulated maximum prices which could lie charged, the schedule of charges would he approximately 25 to 30 per cent below thees prices, anj to large consumers the cost of power would he considerably less than anywhere else in New Zealand when equal conditions were taken into consideration. The uses of electricity in the homo and on the farm were dealt with in detail, and the experience of other parts of New Zealand explained. It wa.s pointed out that a, complete installation, consisting of lighting, water-lieating, cooking and power for milking, when installed in an average size establishment, would consume approximately £SO worth of current per annum with a proportionately greater or less amount in accordance with tho amount- of equipment used. The cost to the consumer for his installation and the financial arrangements in connection therewith, proved to be of considerable interest to those present, ns it was realized that those costs were very mueli lower at the present lime than had been the ease for many years. When it was pointed out that the provision of a supply for the district by tlie beginning of next milking season would be advantageous, it was pointed out that this would be possible, and an announcement will be mndc/in this connection in the course of a few days. The meeting concluded with an expression of general anxiety tn have the supply inaugurated as soon as possible, and an assurance that it would be used to The fullest possible extent throughout the district.