ROMANCE OF ELECTRICAL DEVELOPMENT.

Shannon News, 1 September 1922, Page 3

ROMANCE OF ELECTRICAL DEVELOPMENT.

EFFECTS OF LAKE COLERIDGE Mr I-I. Holland, who was for seven years Mayor ef Christchurch, gave, a very interesting address at Palmerston yesterday on hydro-electrical development. . Mr Holland said that when the preliminary surveys were made in 1913 in connection with the. Lake Coleridge scheme, he became keenly interested in hydro-eleclricity and since that time the subject had been his hobby. As showing the tremendous growth of electricity since the hydro scheme was instituted in Canterbury, the. speaker stated that the revenue in 1921 was £79,300, as compared with £17,500 when steam was the generating force in 1913. It was also, interesting to note that the cost to the consumer under the new system averaged l£d per unit, against 4d per unit when the steam plant was in use. The growth was the more remarkable, continued Mr Holland, when it was remembered that the development took place during the war period, when every restriction was p'aced In the way of the con miner, this being necessary owing to he demand for power and lighting being greater than tlie supply availa'c. The number of new connections made during 1921 averaged 214 per month.

CHEAP POWER IN THE HOME.

To illustrate the many usages of c'dctric power, Mr Holland stated that ten years ago Tie had installed a washing mehine in his home. He dreaded each time he was called upon to sup ply the necessary power by hand. Later, a one-sixth h.p. motor was installed to drive a wringer in addition to T.e washing machine, the cost for power being l.Jd for eight hours. _ As about four washing days were necessary to consume a unit of power, the cost was less than 2d a month. The speaker staled that 436 domestic users in Christchurch paid 2/ a month for their light, 549 paid 2 6 and 68 per cent j,a:d less than 4 per month. In spite of the low cost Jo the consumer, the Chri. tch-.uch City Council’s electricity i.apartment showed a profit last year u, £i5,27? net. THE FACTORY. A firm of manufacturers in Christ-

huiTh estimated that the cost in coat

to generate live steam power lor its use'would be £i per week. It had been tound that five electric motors were driving the plant at a cost of £2 10. per month for power. In addition to

the saving in money, the machines were being run more efficiently, long lines of shafting being dispensed with. Ihe modern system is to install an

electric motor ior each machine. USE OF STORAGE BATTERIES. Tiie Christchurch City Council provides the electrical energy for 50 lorries, the charges ranging from £35 to £BO per year. This includes charging,

storage and greasing the vehicles. The revenue derived from this source is practically all profit to the department as the charging of the batteries is carried out during the night, when ample current is available. The speaker said the North Island Boards could not expect to supply power and light at. the prices he had stated. The Christchurch Council was only paying 4£ per cent for the money invested in its electrical scheme. In addition, it was being charged £5 per

kilowatt by the Government, whereas the charge to the former body was estimated to be £8 per kilowatt. The speaker concluded by stating that owing to its low cost and convenience, hydro-electricity made possible a great number of industries which were considered too costly to run when steam i ower was used. I