HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

Shannon News, 11 August 1922, Page 3

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

HOROWHENUA LOAN PROPOSAL,

MEETING AT SHANNON. On Wednesday evening, at the Maoriland Theatre, Mr G. A. Monk, chairman of the Power Board, and the Engineer to the Board, Mr T. R. Overton, M.1.E.E., addressed a fair attendance of ratepayers, considering the boisterous evening, on the proposed loan. The Mayor, Mr Murdoch, presided, and introduced the speakers.

Mr Monk traced the development <>! hydro-electric power in. New Zealand. It commenced with tha Waipori scheme in 1902, taken over by uie Dunedin City Council in 1904, and so successful that it showed a profit last year of £20,000. 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 year w r as paid off the capital coat. The Government eventually purchased the plant. In Canterbury the Government first sold the power to the local consumers, but that work conflicted with the local bodies’ proper functions, and as a result, the Elec-tric-power Boards Act, 1918, provided for the setting up of separate boards for the management of the power distribution. Mangahao was onei 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 as fast as was prudent. It did not want to make mistakes that could not be undone. The work done rested almost entirely on the shoulders of the County Clerk (Mr Goldsmiht). It had cost other boards as much as £4OO and £SOO f o constitute their districts, but Mr Goldsmith had reached that point with an expenditure of less than £IOO. (Applause.) The ratepayers could very well thank the County Clerk for the. able way in which he did his work.

The Board asked for a loan cf £260,000, but it would only be raised in smaller amounts as required, and only as much as was necessary wnuld be spent. If the scheme only cost £160,000, £IBO,OOO or £200,000, so much the better.

Regarding the cost to the consumer, he could tell them what 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 day.

, ASO to 60-cow plant with house lighting, 1/7 per day. A 70 to 80-cow plant with lighting, 1/9 per day. House lighting at Te Awamutu cost individual consumers per month 8/8, 10/4, 6/4, 10/4, 16/6 (bank), 16/8 (doctor), and £2 1/4 (club). The Cambridge Board charges to individual consumers for , the following summer months wer6 : November, lighting 5/, iron 2/6; December, light 8/, iron 4/6, fan 5/6| iron 2/6; February, light 6/3, iron 3/,

Private firms would be allowed 10 fit up installations, and it was thought best t,o have open competition in this matter. All work must be done to the satisfaction of the Board’s Engineer, and wherei several consumers grouped together let a contract for installation it would be possible to savs many pounds.

THE ENGINEER’S VIEW. Mr Overton explained the system o i high and low tension lines that would be run through the district, to supply the current. The consumer would have to pay the cost from these lines to liis premises, the cost being 25/ to 30/ per chain without poles. Consumers could supply their own poles, and he- advised anyone who had these growing from 22 to 251't long, eight inches across at the butt, to cut them down and dx-y them for the purpose. If the Board supplied the poles it would cost £1 per chain extra. The service lines did not always stick to the roads but went wherever was most, advantageous. Local men would he employed as far as possible in erecting the poles, but it required men with a certain amount of experience 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 safer, but if badly fitted it was a constant, annoyance and source of danger. The Board would make stringent by-laws on these points, and only issue licenses to qualified men. It was proposed to allow £30,000 to assist consumers to- find. 25 per cent- of cost .balance to be spread over a term. The more the Board can get the cheaper it will be. It was intended to pay the whole interest out of loan during construction, which £IB,OOO should

•over, including sinking fund. Mir Overton stated that in the past