HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Shannon News, 6 February 1925, Page 2

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

BOON TO FARMING COMMUNITY. POWER COSTS CUT 25 PER CENT. Although electric power lias been available in the Horowhenua district only a short, time, it appears to have already firmly established itself in the good graces of the consumers. Particularly is this the case with the farming community who are finding that they can run tneir milking plants very much more cheaply by means of electric motors than with the internal combustion engines previously in. use. It is estimated that a saving of at least 2q per cent, is effected in afl cases, and one or two specific instances. which were related ti> a "Ctironicle” representative to-day by a Power Board official were certainly impressive. In one case, it used tu cost the larmer £6 per month for benzine to run his milking plant; since me Installation Qf the electric motor ms bill lor three months came to £8 19s sd, including the cost of running a water heater. The water heater is a separate installation costing 10s per month, and is a convenience greatly apreciated by dairy farmers, but one with which the benzine, engine was unable to provide them. Another dairy larmer, in the Moutpa district with a UO-cqw plant, rail his machine four nionths and 23 days for £l4 10s Kid, including the. charge for water heating. This represents a reduction of well over 25 per cent, on previous costs. For the average farmer, the saving, in cash, works out at front £2 to £3 per month according to -the size of the plant. Hie farmers have been quick to realise ilie advantages, of the new system ,u.nd 75 per cent, of those living in the reticulated areas have changed uver. A few conservative folk still cling obstinately to their pet oil engines which have given them good service in the past, but the number is constantly diminislung, and those who, a few months ago, indignantly rejected the proposals of the P.oiwe.r Board canvassers, are now applying of their own accord t<j have the power laid on to their farms.

'The Power Board staff is proceeding with the work of reticulation at as rapid a rate as possible. A new group is being formed in the Ohau, Kujku, and fßJruce Road districts, where a large number of dairy farmers are situated and where the demand for power is expected to be keen. Canvassers are at present m this area, and as soon as sufficient subscriber^have been booked up, the low tension lines will be run out and the. district reticulated. Up to the present the Board has been concentrating its energies more in the boroughs and tliickly populated districts, as it was necessary that the chiei revenue-producing areas should first be tapped, but from now on, the pure* ly fanning community will receive more attention.