POWER FROM MANGAHAO

Shannon News, 23 February 1923, Page 2

POWER FROM MANGAHAO

WHEN WILL IT BE AVAILABLE ?

The question of the supply r oi power from Mangahao was'given some attention at the meeting oi the'Horowhenua 'Power. Board on Tuesday. •

The Dannevirkp ’■ Electric l’d.wer Board wnote that it was very concerned, on account, of the continued ie ports from those in authority, to know that the current would not he. available at the etui of 1923, although the Minister for Public Works had from time to time given assurances that it would be ready on. schedule time. This) matter concerned Boards vitally, and the Dannevirke B( ai d was proceeding with 'its financial arrangements in the Tull belief. tha! die .Mangahao would be ready: In December' next. If. power was'no| available Tt would be a very seri.ous loss to the: Boards who are tp recoivV i .i cir power from there. The Board suited that a deputation was waiting on the Minister that day (20th ihst), and asked that the Horowhenua Board’ivOuid be represented.

The chairman (Mr G. At Monk) said it was unfortunate their Board was not represented oa the, deputation, but as it was their meeting . day he felt it his duty to be present at that meeting. However,.Mr Field was acting for the Board on the deputation', and would do his best in its interests.

A letter was then read from Mr 1,. Bilks, 'Chief Electrical Engm'eer, who wrote that in connection with the proposed contract Tor the of power from Mangahao, the amount of 1200 k|v.a. • had been alloca(ed.ifo the Hoipwlienua Board. It was necessary; if that amount was to.he reserved that some definite guarantee; should be obtained from the Bpard as to the period within which this allocatign .would he utilised and paid for. was considered that, in the fifth year the Board should utilise the whole amount .reserved for its use, and that; in the previous years it should undertake to utilise and pay for definite proportions of -this amount. On tiie basis of ultimate allocation of 1200 k.v.a.. it was considered )he, s 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 480 k.v.a., annual payment £4240. Second year, £5200. Third year, 720, £6160,. Fourth-year. 960, £BOBO., < Fifth year, 1200, £fo,ooo.

It was necessary, for the financial success of the scheme that power should be sold as rapidly as possible, as it was impossible for plant to be kept idle to comply with any allocation greater than 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 tie did not think they should enter info a contract. He thought the Power Boards should co-operate, as there was great necessity of working- together and not against eadh other,; if >hey were to get the best results in dealing with the Department. ‘‘The important thing we want to know,” said the chairman, “is when we ‘are going to get the power. WO" see from timr to time where the Minister says the power will be available! on time, and yet the papers a few days 'ago said the recent floods would cause at delay of three months. Those delays maygo. on from time to time and cause serious delay.”

The Engineer (Mr Overton) said if* allowance had not been made for a washout it. raised grave suspicion as to the time they would get the power Mr A. Seifert supported, the'view of the chairman., .They siiouid not enter into a contract until they saw what other boards were .doing. As# to Mr Birks’ letter, he thought' this district would take the full allotment of power quicker than most districts, owing to its industries. Mr Seifert , s aid that he

did not feel easy in his * mind 'about the delivery of the power to ,tlie boards, and such incidents as the recent washout should, have been anticipated and allowed for; The chairman said , the position was. Ihe Department wanted the Board. to* enter into a contract re the taking of power, but was it not a fair thing to ask the Department to guarantee the power being available at the due date. ■

Mr D. W. Matheson said the Department’s policy was right in :disposing of its 'po\yer as it was doing. It was the onlyyrtvay of getting the power cheap. But there should be an agreement on the Department’s side to .supply the power when the Board was ready for it. United action was necessary by the Board, and he favoured the idea of a league, of boards, and thought something, should be done to bring the boards together.';., x 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 be something made public on.that point. The chairman x stated he had gone into that matter with the Engineer, and a statement would be made in the near future.