POWER STOPPAGES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5236, 8 February 1928, Page 2

POWER STOPPAGES.

SAFEGUARDS FOR THE SUPPLY.

THAMES VALLEY BOARD ACTION. At yesterday’s meeting of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board the chairman (Mr F. M. Strange) in referring to the Horahora stoppages, said that the board’s executive had experienced a very anxious time.’i Horahora had. been visited, and the actual position investigated. He detailed the blockages that occurred at the head works, and outside the screen's. At the present time pumice and silt was still coming down Arapuni. The difficulty was : What would happen when thei first flood occurred in the Waikato River? A fresh might do good, but on the other hand the river might again eat into the banks and do untold damage. The department should be urged to safeguard the continuity of supply. For • Instance, the Grand Junction could supply up to 1500 horsepower, whereas it might be increased to double that amount. A tribute was due to the consideration shown by the farmers and other consumers during a trying period, but their patience would in time become exhausted, and something should be done to safeguard them against unexpected contingencies. McLaren’s, Falls,' from which 100'0 h.p. had been drawn as an emergency supply, had notified an increase to 1500 h.p. since the recent rains. The position generally was now more hopeful. On the motion of Mr J. Price it was decided to ask the department -to expedite the erection of a .temporary sub-station; at Matdmata. In seconding, the chairman said that the Matamata district had probably suffered more than any area from low voltage. « Referring to stoppages at Matamata, Mr Price said he understood that some./vere caused through the switches being too low. In reply, the engineer (Mr McLeod) said that although the stoppages had been of a few minutes’ duration only, they were most annoying to farmers ‘ at milkirtg time. .An investigation wasi being made, but he had not received the data necessary to make a definite statement. AMENDED REGULATIONS.

Referring to the proposed new legislation, the chairman maintained that the board had a definite claim to an objection. Fortunately the board had completed its main reticulation scheme, otherwise several of the existing, lines would never have been erected. It was only fair that power boards should have been advised by the Government of the

amended regulations. To Mr F. E. Flatt the chairman said the amended regulations did not affect arqas already reticulated. Mr Flatt agreed that an emphatic protest should be forwarded to the Government, and the various members, of Parliament should also be advised. ; , It was'suggested by Mr H. R. Bush that it Was asking the Gownmenit to "do too milch to advise local bodies of any amendments that were being brought down to existing lawst .In Ivs opinion it was a matter for members of Parliament to advise power boards and other local bodies. Mr Corbett thought a, protest should bes made to the Minister in charge and members for the district. 'Mr . Flatt sjaid he did not see why the Government head should not be apprised of the board’s protest, whether he liked it or not. Finally it was resolved to notify the members of Parliament of ■ the board’s protest at the Government .bringing down amendments to the Power Boardst Act Without first consulting power boards. ' - It was also resolved to forward a copy of the resolution to the Power Boards’ Association. )

CONTINUANCE OF SUPPLY. ', The chairman said that rumours, were current that further trouble, was likely at Horahora. The board was alive to the matter of continuance of supply from that source, but desired

to know from the Public Works Department what the; future was likely to bring forth. The position was serious, especially as the department had notified dairy companies that it could not continue the three-party agree- ; ment after 31 next. A conference had been held recently at Hamilton, and the; Public Works Department had scheduled all possible , sources from which supplies could be * obtained.- It was found, after allow-

ing for all contingencies), that there would be ample power. It was expected, and hoped that the information received at that conference w«uld be abided by. In the meantime the department should be urged to complete the Penrose sub-station, and also increase the load from the Grand

Junction. On the motion of Mr J. Pohlen it was decided to arrange a conference between the dairy companies concerned, the power boards, and the de.partment at an early date. Should that conference be abortive it was suggested that a deputation should go to Wellington and interview the chief electrical, engineer (Mr F. T. M. Kissel) and "thrash the matter to a. conclusion, as it was necessary that the position should be determined. V To Mr Flatt the engineer‘said that arrangements might be made for the board to take, over the dairy companies. The Government had taken over the Grand Junction, but the purchase price was not knowni However, the Government should be induced to ■ increase the Grand Junction supply to 3000 h.p. There was sufficient boiler consumption at the mine but apparently the turbines were the’ difficulty. It was suggested that the Government should be apprised of the likelihood of securing power from Waitawhe.ta. “Yes,” remarked Mr Corbett, “that is a scheme that might very well be considered.”