POWER FROM MANGAHOA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2182, 28 September 1920, Page 3

POWER FROM MANGAHOA.

SCHEME OF DISTRIBUTION

DISTRICT COMMITTEE SET UP,

A conference of local body representatives, convened by the Horowjienua County Council, was held in Emin on Saturday for the pttrP', -.' of considering a proposal to form an electric power board for (he Horowhenua. district in connection with the Mangahao hydro-electric scheme. Mr L. Berks, Chief Electrical Engineer, Public Works Department, was present, and the district delegates were Messrs 0. A. Monk (chairman), C. 1. Harkpess and S. A. Broad belt (Horowhenna County Council), Sir dames Wilson and Messrs Hunt, Barber and Drew (Manawatu County Council), Mr W. Murdoch (Shannon Borough Council), Messrs Chryslali. Thompson' and Pearson (Foxton Borough Council), 'Messrs I), W. Malheson, F. R. Parker and B. R. Gardner (Levin Borough Council), and Messrs Brandon, Kilsby and Nicholson ((.Haiti Town Board). The chairman explained that the conference previously held had been adjourned owing to the Public Works representative not being able to attend. These officers were now present, and if they would give the conference something concrete to work on they would know where thev were.

Mr Birks opened Ids .remarks by referring to the advantages of eleetrien! power, os|)eeiiilly if developed on n large scale. Its benefits were very far-reaeliing, ns no scope of industry should he outside its application. It was going - to enter largely into their industrial and fanning activities, and would aiso benefit tin l country so far as shipping was concerned by reducing the difficulties in regard to the coal position. Coming to the question of distributing - the power, he pointed out that where local power schemes were operating, the proposed power hoards could not go in and compete with them, hut could sell power in bulk to such bodies, which could thus increase (heir business. He explained that there would he live main schemes, and by carrying on in a large way I he Government could dispose of the power at a much cheaper rate than that produced hy small schemes. A number of small schemes were working in New Zea,land, and he quoted ret urns showing I lie comparatively high cost of power from litem. Mr also quoted largely from list* proposed Southland scheme, which has setout to reticulate the whole of I heir area, including the haekbloeks, which would delay making the scheme pay for the first year or two, Imi in Thames Valiev, where a scheme was also being installed, the proposal was (o work out from the principal centres, and 11ms secure a profit almost at once. The latter was undoubtedly the right method of procedure. All the same, they must strive to reach the man in the haekbloeks at the earliest possible moment. The basis of distribution was one horse-power to every live of the population, which would serve for some years to emue, and pro\ide for average industrial and domestic purposes. In forming power hoard districts, the Department had in view the taking in of the hack country as well as I lie more thickly populated centres. For (hat purpose the .Department had drawn up tin; boundaries of the proposed Horowhenna district, ft was suggested that, as far south as I’aekakariki and a portion of HuU County should be included, and to go as far north as Foxlmi, the localities and population being as folh i ws :—■ 1 ’opula l ion. Levin Borough !ti.!o ( M a ki Town Boa rd . • 800 Shannon Borough ... Bid! h’oxton Borough .... 1772 Horowhenua County . . 581*5 Hull County -810 Total 11,351 There would be two main [mints of‘supply in Horowhenua. one at Shannon and the other at Dtaki. He wanted to emphasise that I he Government was to provide the wholesale supply, and the retail business could he undertaken by the local bodies or hoards. A hoard’s area would extend roughly over 25 miles, which would necessitate one power station, but owing to the extensive nature of Horowhenua, two stations were provided. The. chairman asked, in event of this district not being prepared to take the power allocated io it, would the [lower be passed on to some other district i 1 Mr Birks said yes; no power would he held up. In reply to Mr Parker, Mr Birks .-aid [lower would be sold from power stations, and that stations would he provided in convenient [ibices in each district at the cost of the Government. Mr Harkness: What would ho the cost of electric power to a farmer to run his farm operations Mr Birks said the cost to run a. milking machine would bo 121 per year. Mr Birks, in reply to another question, said the Department did not encourage supply to a, local body which stood out of a board. AVhere consumption increased it would be for the board concerned to reduce the cost of the [tower if it found itself able to do so. He added that the boards would have control of the distribution in their districts. Sir James Wilson expressed great' satisfaction at Mr Birks' explanation ojf the position. He stated that some time ago the Mauawatu County made application for a license

to distribute power, but the department did not agree, and thought the county slmuld join in with some of llic other disiriels. Mamiv.Lu considered they should be allowed to work their own scheme (Torn the |j<tinl of population, and the large number of dairy fuel- Aes and oilier industries requiring power. He suggested that Foxton borough., Rongotea and the Manawatu, with a combined population of 7,000, should form a district. Even then their allocation of power would only be 500 to 700 horse-power, and he asked whit would get that, the householders or the dairy interests, as there would be a big absorption of power from dairymen and the factories. He thought Manawatu should a license and go on with reticulation as soon as possible, and (bus permit the power to ,1)0 used immediately it was turned on.

Mr Birks said ho was glad to hear the Manawatu proposal, but it was contrary to their ideas.

Air Chrystall said the people of Fnxton would be prepared to associate themselves with the .Manawatu County, as the two districts had community of interest, lie slated that Foxton had large llaxinilling interests, and would absorb a lot of power. lie was also of opinion that the districts adjacent to the source of power should be supplied to (ho full, ns transmission meant loss of a percentage of power.

Air Birks slatted that the reason Foxton was included in the Horowhenun was its geographical position. Ho was of opinion that Foxton, being in close proximity to the main station, should be supplied by a line running from Shannon, and thus supply the (laxmills cn route. ■

Mr Chrystall: I never knew Foxton was so important before. Everybody wants it. (Laughter.)

Mr Ilarkness considered it would be a mistake to break up districts as suggested; they should slick to the division as laid down by the Department.

The Chairman stated that the Department's ideas on the boundaries of the .Horowhenua coincided with his own. Now that they find heard Mr Birks, he considered they should set up a committee from the delegates present to go into matters at once, and to report within a month. They did not want to dwell at all. When the power was ready they should be in a position to lake it. He moved that a committee be set up, Ideal bodies to elect their delegates.

Mi- Matheson seconded the motion, which was carried.

Tim chairman said he Mauawatu should he represented on the committee. Sir James Wilson did not think - so. If Mauawatu joined with any district i! would he with an area in a northerly district. In any case he would like the eonniy kept intact. Mr Chrystall considered that the lower portion of the Mauawatu, the Mouioa district, should he supplied from Levin rat her than from some more distant [mint.

Bepresenialion on the committee was lived as follows: Horowhenua County three representatives, Levin, Shannon and Foxton boroughs, Olaki Town Board, and Mauawatu and Hull counties, one each. The chairman pointed out before a power hoard could lie formed it would be necessary to gel the consent of 25 per cent, of their ratepayers. No lime should he lost, as they wanted to start work at once. Sir James Wilson said that seemed altogether unnecessary, as everybody was unanimous that they wanted electricity. He thought local bodies should have power hy special order to say it they wanted electricity instead of having to go to the ratepayers for their consent. Mr Toogood, C.E., supported the previous speaker, as hy getting a special order they would he advancing their work hy six months.

Sir James Wilson then moved that the Minister of Public Works be asked to insert a clause in the Power Board Amendment Bill providing for a special order for local authorities as an alternative of a petition signed by 25 per cent, of the ratepayers in the setting up of a [lower district. The unit ion was seconded by Mr Chrystall, and carried.