SAFETY AT ARAPUNI

Hokitika Guardian, 1 November 1932, Page 2

SAFETY AT ARAPUNI

rr '* •>;>/. citsw ‘ \ • •• ' i .v- '( MINISTER’S R|WS'SURING WORDS PROFITS AND . WORKING COSTS. WELLINGTON/Oct, 29. A reassUrng kfaleroeht about the Stability ol the Arapuni hvdro-elcctric. (works was made by thei'Acting-Minister of Public Works, Hod. JjprMacmilla-n, ' (when J speaking id ; the ffiidget debate last evening. ;Hb described as absurd staternents/fhat the constructed on a volcanic' said all rddsoaiabie prjecautions'awere .taken J»y-the department in-y Selecting .the Mpv He ’ Zealand jpd a good' ■ Explaining, in s.olhe ' to bo given '"in -the •Publio- Works Statement, .the ' Minister- said the capital cost of the Arapuni scheme worked out at' £32.P per horseppiyef. • ‘ That'; figure included interest;'' during up to 31/3/’32. When Arapuni was extended fto its ultimate capacity of 160,000 horsepower it was estimated the cost would work out at £21.2 per horsepower. The average of all New Zealand plants, fuel and water, was £39.7 per horsepower. ,• “The Government power schemes in operation to last March earned 7.28 per cent. dVgr het. operating expenses for the year,” said the Minister. “In other .words, . after allowing for depreciation namely £103,092 they made a profit of £37,000. During the year the .bulk of, capital on Arapuni was considered as being not in operation and interest thereon ,was being

capitalised. Since Arapuni went into / operation again in April it has earned, after paying net operating expenses, 6.75. per cent as, at August 31st. “There is nothing to be alarmed over at Arapuni,’’ said the Minister. “If the, rupture Jhad not been, stopped there might .have, been cause for alarm. Trere is practicallysurplus water going over the headrace and the thres units are operating. The department is justified in resisting prejudiced statements by people who have not given the subject full investigation. I invite any- members to come to my office when the officers of the department will be only too pleased to explain the whole position. They invite any investigation, and criticism, and . -they say that the cause of the trouble is not of such a nature as to cause any * alarm regarding the stability of the Scheme.”