HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2466, 12 August 1922, Page 2

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

LOAN proposal discussed. AT LAST NIGHT’S PUBLIC MEETING. The chairman of the Horowhenua Hydro-Electric- Board (Mr G. -A. Monk), and engineer (Mr R. Overton, M.1.C.E.) addressed a meeting of ratepayers in the Town Hall last night in connection with a poll to be taken throughout the Horowhenua Electric-power District on Tuesday next, on the question of raising a loan of £260,000 for the erection of service lines and the assistance of ratepayers desiring to take power from the Mangahao generating station.

There was a very moderate attendance and the Mayor (Mr John Chrystall) presided and welcomed the speakers. Mr Monk traced the development of hydro-electric power in New Zealand. It commenced with the Waipori scheme in 1902, taken over by the Dunedin City Council in 1904, and so successful that it, showed a profit last year of £20,(100. Lake Coleridge was the pioneer Government scheme. The Huka Falls installation was', put in by the Waihi Goldmining Company, and was so economical compared with the steam,. plant, that 10 per cent, per veal- was paid off the capital cost. The Government eventually purchased the plant. In Canterbury the Government lir.-t -old the power to i lie local consumers, but that work conllicted with ihe local bodies’ proper functions, and as a result the Electric-power Boards Act, 1918, provided for the setting up of separate boards for the management of the power distribution. Manguhao was one of the sources of supply under Mr Evan Parry’s scheme embracing the whole of the North Island.

Mr Monk traversed the steps leading up to the constitution of the Horowhenua Power District, and said they had been criticised for delay in connection with it. The Provisional Committee had progressed as fast as it possibly could, and afast as was prudent. It, did not want to make mistakes that could not he undone. The work done rested almost entirely on tlfe shoulders of the County Clerk (Air Goldsmith). Tt had cost other board,as much as £4OO and £SOO to constitute. their districts, tint Mr Gold smith had reached that point with an expenditure of !0.-s than £IOO. (Applause). The ratepayers could very well thank the County Clerk f:• lhe able way in which lie did his ■,ork. It had been said that Mangahao would not provide sufficient power, but everyone who wanted power was not going to take it at once, and by tlie time the complete scheme came into operation there would be plenty of power. He did not think for a moment- that the district would require the 2,300 horsepower allotted it from the outset. Dealing with the appointment of the engineer, Mr Monk showed Ihe saving effected by employing a resident engineer as against a consulting engineer. They had to get a man from a district that had been reticulated, and one who had had experience.

The Board asked for a loan of £2(10,000, but it would only be raised in smaller amounts as required, and only as much as was necessary would be spent. If the scheme only cost £IOO,OOO, £IBO,OOO or £200,000, so much the better. They did not want to incur extra expense by underestimating the e.ost and raising further loans. Coming to the question of cost, the chairman said the Board hoped to carry its scheme through so successfully that it would never have to collect the rate that had been struck as a guarantee for the loan, or at least to collect very little of it. The more people who came into the scheme the more certain it would be that, the rate would never be collected. It was a business matter, and he thought the members of the Board were men of fair business capabilities. The Board would pay considerably less for its power that) they were pitying in the Waikato today, namely £lO per h.p. for the first 200h.p.. £8 for the next 300h.p., £7 for the next 3(10 and £(3 thereafter, it a average of £7 10s per h.p. for 1.200 h.p. Regarding the cost to tlie consumer he eotijd tell them wlmt was being, paid in the Waikato, where they had paid at peak prices for labour and material, and where the current was costing more than Horowhenua would pay. A 40-cow plant with lighting for the house was costing 1/4 to 1/5 per dav.

A 50 to (iO-eow plant with house lighting, 1/7 per day. A 70 to 80-cow plant with lighting, 1/9 per day. House lighting ; it Te Awamutu cost individual consumers per month 8/8, 10/4, (5/4, 16/(5 (bank), 1(5/8 (doctor), and £2 1/4 (club).

Private firms would be allowed to (it up installations, and it was thought best to have open competition in this matter. All work must he done to the satisfaction of the Board's Engineer, and where several consumers grouped together let a contract for installation it would be possible to save many pounds. Mr ’Monk referred to the millions of pounds sent to America for petrol and,kerosene and which could be saved by using the power in our midst. The oil combines would reduce their prices in order to compete with-electricity but our duty was to support our own country.

In conclusion, Mr Monk said the ratepayers could be certain the money asked for would be wisely ■spent. He pointed out, however, that the Board had already commit-

ted itself to certain liabilities that it could not avoid. If, now, it did not get a mandate to carry on and the ratepayers voted against the loan, there would only be one way out. They would have to collect a rate to meet the expenses already incurred. He did not for one moment think the loan would be rejected, and he asked for the interest of the local people in its support. It was a proposal that was going to be useful, helpful and necessary, and that would effect ;i great saving and a good supporting poll wouid cz-eate a favourable impression financially. THHE ENGINEER’S VIEW.

Mr Overton explained the system of light and low tension lines that would be run through the district to supply the current and the important bearing electricity would have on the flaxmilling and dairying industries. Local men would be employed as far as possible in erecting the poles, but it required men with a certain amount of expei'ience to do the wiring, as it was most important that this should be properly done. The installation of power and lighting was always done by licensed men. If electricity was properly installed there was nothing safei’, but if badly fitted it was a constant annoyance and source of danger. The Board would make stringent bylaws on these points, and only issue licenses to qualified men. Other matt el’s of a technical nature were referred to and he said his advice was always available when required bv consumers.

Mr W. Nye sked for information re cost of electricity as' against suction gas for flaxmilling purposes and received a satisfactory answer in favour of electricity. Other matters of minor importance were touched on or explained by the engineer. The Mayor moved that this meeting heartily support the loan proposals and pledges its support to carry same at the poll, seconded by Mr Christie and carried unanimously.

The Mayor further moved “that this meeting recommends the Board as a means of keeping down the cost to consumers, to raise a loan at 4£ per cent. and. one per cent, sinking fund and in the event of not being able toasecure the money at above rate, the capital he secured in in--ralments by short-dated loans at the lowest l’ate possible.”—Cai*ried. Mr Monk said he welcomed the motion and they could rest assured that the money would be raised on the best possible terms. The usual votes of thanks to the speakers and chairman concluded the meeting.