HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2186, 7 October 1920, Page 4

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

ITS ECONOMIC INFLUENCES. At Levin recently, Mr E, H. Crabb, chairman of the Mangahao Hydro-Electric League, delivered an interesting address on hydro-elec-tricity and its probable economic influence. Mr Crabb prefaced his address with an intimation that lie was not an expert with technical knowledge, but an average citizen who had tried by reading and observation to form definite opinions on life and things generally, and (he meaning of them. When analysing the processes and powers 'which had aided man so greatly one found that they all hinged upon one great fuel —the harnessing of energy. Ho then briefly train'd the industrial progress of the past 200 years, which, lie staled, was mainly based upon the power of steam. The cost of the transit of coal, and the inability to transfer steam power from the spot where it was set up, would all go to centralise production in a few favoured localities. Electricity would change all that. It, however, was not a force in itself, it was merely a transformer of energy from what might be termed solid, immovable power to fluid power, which could be distributed along certain channels to wherever required. 11 did not deliver all the power it took up; 25 per cent, was lost in changing the “solid"’ power into electricity, and a further 10 per cent, to 1.5 per cent, was tost in distribution. The ■convenience of having power in a llnid form was so great as to more than make up for the small losses in distribution and the like. In referring to the advantage of having hydrooleetricity in New Zealand. Mr Crabl) stated that the prime importance of its development had been recognised in countries more directly engaged in the recent war than in New Zealand, and the development of electric power, either from water or coal, was in the forefront of nearly every nation's programme at the present lime. In Canada 2,210.822 h.p. was being derived from electricity. while the total horsepower available was 10,854,000. 1 lie manufacturing industries of oinsist er Dominion had greatly progressed, and their future prosperity

and development were assured. It was not only the manufacturing industries alone which had benefited, electricity had entered into (lie every-day life of the people to an extent unknown and undreamed of here, it had been applied to no fewer than 32 domestic processes, and had proved itself out 1 of the greatest advantages to over-worked wives and mothers that civilisation had so far afforded them. Electric power was also largely used in farming work. In referring to the various hydroelect rie power schemes of this country, Mr Crabb said it was estimated that the 7,000 h.p. provided by Lake Coleridge represented a displacement in coal consumption of upwards of 00,000 ions per annum. If that was so, the Mangahao scheme, with 2-1,000 h.p., would render unnecessary some 300,000 tons of coal in our present consumption. He did not. think it was likely Hint hydroelectricity would entirely supersede loal, but it would supersede it to an extent which would render almost unnecessary one of the hardest and most exacting of all occupations. He trusted that in tlie age of electricity now opening they could see the possibility of developments equal, or exceeding, that of the introduction of steam. The New Zealand Government, continued Mr Crabb, had determined to keep full control of electric power. The experience of the consequences arising from the uncontrolled economic development of steam power were sufficient to justify this course. Economic power, such as the control of: electricity, was too dangerous to trust it in any hands hut that of the community as a whole.Clt was hoped that greater care would be exercised Ilian was formerly the case, and the increased economic benefits which would follow the introduction of electricity would not lie allowed as in the ease of steam, to be absorbed chiefly by a small section of the community, but would be retained for the benefit of all. If" all parts of the community stink their di(Terences iu a whole-hearted desire to serve the community, then the increased productivity and efficiency rendered possible by the introduction of .hydro-electricity would ho the means of raising the young of the nation to a civilisation never yet reached.

Air Grubb was accorded a hearty vole of thunks for his lecture.