POWER FROM MANGAHAO

Otaki Mail, 23 February 1923, Page 4

POWER FROM MANGAHAO

| WHEN WILL IT BE AVAILABLE? | i lie question of tlie supply of power from Mangahao was given some attention at the meeting ol the liorowheliiri Power Board on Tuesday. The L'tuinevirke Electric Power Board wrote.that it was very concerned, on account of the continued re ports from those in authority, to know that tlie current would not be available at die end of 1 , although the Minister for Public Works bad from time to time given assurances 'that it would tie ready on schedule time. This mailer concerned Boards vitally, and the Dannevirke Board was proceeding with its financial arrangements in the full belief that the Mangahao would be ready in December next. If power was not available it would be a very serious loss to tue Boards who are to receive their power I Irom tbete. The [maid slated that, a deputation was waiting on the Minis- | ter Hud day :20th inst), and asked that I the HorcnvTiemui Board would be. represented. The chairman 'Mi G. A. Monk; said it Was unfortunate their Board was not represented on tlie deputation, but as d was their meeting day be; felt it fits duty to be present at that meeting. However. Mr field was acting lor the Board on the deputation, ami would do his best in its interest?, i A letter was then read from Mr L. Birks, Chief Electrical Engineer, who wrote that in connection with the proposed contract for the supply of power from Mangahao, the amour.it of 1200 k v.a. had been allocated to the Horowhenua Board. It was necessary if that amount was to be reserved that some definite guarantee should be obtained from the Board as to tinperiod within which this allocation would be utilised and paid for. ft i was considered that in the fifth year (he Board should utilise rhe whole amount reserved for its use, and that

in the previous year* it should undertake to utilise and pay for definite proportions of this amount. On the basis of ultimate allocation of 1200 k.v.a. it was considered the Board should be in a position to guarantee in the first five years of operation the following average demand and payment for power—

First year, average demand 430 v • a., annual payment £4240. Second year, 600, £5200. Third year, 720, £6160. i Fourth year. 960, £BOBO. Fifth year, 1200. £IO,OOO. It was necessary lor the financial success of the scheme that power should be sold as rapidly as possible, as it was impossible lor plant to i/e kept idle to comply with any allocation greater than the Board was prepared to guarantee within a reasonable period. The chairman stated that unless the Board got further information as to when they would get the power he did not think they should enter into a contract. He thought the Power Boards should co-operate, as there was great necessity of working together and not against each other if bey were to get the best results in dealing wdth the Department. “The important thing we want to know,” said the chairman, “is when we are going to get the power. Ue see from time

to time where the Minister says the (power will be available on time, and yet the papers a few days ago said the recent hoods would cause a delav I of three months. Those delays wav j go on from time to time and cause j serious delay." The Engineer (Mr Overton) said If [ allowance had not been made for a I wa~hout it raised grave suspicion as | to the time they would get the power -'it' A. Seifert supported the view of the chairman. They should not enter into a contract until they saw what other boards were doing. Ae to Mr Birks 1 letter, he though* this district I would take the full allotment of power I quicker than most districts, owing to its industries. Mr Seifert said that he did not feel east* In iU mind about

the delivery of the power to ih.< boards, and such incidents as the recent washout should have been anticipated and allowed for. Tbe chairman said the position was the Department wanted tlie Board to enter into a contract re tlie taking of power, hut was it not a fair thing to ask file Department to guarantee the power being available -at the due date.

Mr D. W. Mathesou said the Department’s policy was right in disposing of its power as it was doing, it was the only way of getting the power cheap. But there should he an agreement on the Department’s -dde to supply the power when the Board was ready for it. United action was necessary by the Board, and lie favoured the idea of a league of boards, and thought something should be done to bring ttie boards toge’her. The chairman said Mr Nash, of Palmerston North, had that matter in hand. Mr W. Barber said a question that was concerning the ordinary consumer was what was the service going to cost? There should he something made public on that point. The chairman stated he had gone into that matter with the Engineer, and a statement would he made in the near future.