HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 384, 5 August 1911, Page 5

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

_ LATENT POSSIBILITIES.

Mr Evan Parry, the chief electrical engineer of the Government's waterpower development scheme, speaking in Wellington last week, referred to the position of the Dominion in respect to hydro-electrical possibilities. He pointed out that the country has large resources, regular and abundant rainfall and sources of power well placed within easy distance of the centres of population and industry; and, more than that, they had got still larger reservoirs to supplement supplies when the others were too small to cope with the demand. Another peculiarity he had noticed was that all these sources were remarkably easy of development, that was to say the initial capital outlay was smaller than anything he had ever had to do with in this respect. Not only that, but the configuration of the country was such as to enable the expenditure to keep pace with the demand. This was really most important, because electrical power undertakings took some time to mature. He considered that if such an undertaking earned expenses within three years it did very well, so they would see the importance of not incurring too large an expenditure at the outset. He considered the fact of the State having undertaken these duties also of great advantage, compared to the procedure of public companies. He had been concerned with two private companies, and he knew very well what the expense amounted to.

One syndicate had spent £25,000 on a Bil! which it didn't get through. Another company took the I?ill up next session, and itcostthem £IO,OOO. Then another Syndicate spent £12,000 or £13,000 on it, so there was something in the neighbourhood of £f>o,ooo spent oil Bills that didn't succeed. Then, assuming that a company did get a Bill, they had heavy underwriting and engineering charges In the case yf New Zealand the work was done by public servants on severely economical salaries. Altogether, when they put. all these advantage? to gether, it seemed to him that electrical power ought to be developed in New Zealand cheaper than anywhere else in the world; in fact he felt quite convinced of it. They had already excellent roads leading out, carefully planned, with due regard to the future requirements, and they had railway connection far in excess of any other country —he should say better compared to the population, and they would have in a few years another very potent and wonderful agent in the development of the country, which was going to have a tremendous in fluence upon th 9 prosperity of the Dominion.