MANGAHAO POWER.

Shannon News, 31 January 1928, Page 2

MANGAHAO POWER.

A SERIOUS SITUATION. BOARDS'AGREE TO 20 PER CENT REDUCTION OF DAY LOAD. Notwithstanding all that has been published about the serious shortage of water at Mangahao hydro-electrical works, electricityconsumers in tl}e vast area supplied by the Government scheme did not respond as readily as the situation demanded, with the result that the Department was obliged to call a conference of supply authorities to go into ways and means of making further reductions. This conference eventuated in Palmerston North yesterday, when it was agreed that the Department should ask consumers to make a 20 per cent, reduction from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Delegates came from the 'followingPower Boards:—Hawke's Bay, Central Hawke's. Bay, Tarariia, Mana-watu-Oroua; Horowhenua, Hutt Valley, Wanganui-Rangitikei and Waira-i-apa; also from the following Borough Councils: —Palmerston North, Napier, Hastings and Wanganui. Situation Serious. Mr. J. A. Nash, MP., was 'elected to the chair and reminded the meetof the serious situation in which Mangahao now found itself The object of the meeting was to discuss ways and means Of meeting the situation which was most alarming and only rain at an early data would completely solve the problem. The Public Works Department felt that this meeting was absolutely necessary so that the positions would be fully realised by consumers. He hoped delegates would do their best to help the Department out of a difficult situ ation.

Mr F. T. Kissel, chief electrical engineer, pointed out to the meeting that' the Mangahao works were only able to carry a load corresponding to the flow of the river. The result of the dry spell had been an enormous decrease in the volume of water and the various fuel plants had been called, upon to assist. The latter could riot be expected to run continuously and it now came to a question of making a reduction in ths loads carried —the cutting out of non-essentials until the shortage was overcome, in order that the chief industries m'ght be. allowed' to carry on. Mangahao works were designed to produce 1,600,000 units per week but were asked to find 2 200,000. units They had not failed to function—far from it. The unfortunate part was that the third dam had not been completed soon enough. The speaker detailed the fall in the water supply that had occurred, stating that it amounted to from 4 to 5 inches per day. An endeavour had been made to reduce the load and the Palmerston N., Napier, Hastings and Wellington steam plants had been called into operation while a number of Freezing companies had also been running their own plants. Adjustments in loads had also been made and night'shifts worked instead of day shifts wherever posible. He suggested that still further economies could be practised such as: —(,1) Factories might run night shifts instead of day shifts; (2) street lights could be eliminated; (3) hot water systems disconnected; (4) electric ranges cut out where there wore wood and coal ranges set in; (f>) a general reduction in loads; (6) housewives could be persuaded to do Iheir ironing from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. when there was a slackening up; (7) the putting into use of petrol plants where such existed; (8) new consumers should be left unconnected. Mr Kissel pointed out that drastic reductions had been mad'fc in the load supplied to the Mangahao settlement where the housewives were only allowed electric ranges for the Sunday joint. .

Government Subsidy.

Tho Government, ho also pointed ! out, was paying- no less than £B,OOO per week for the power it was buying. This would mean that Mangahao revenue would be down this year but better that, than dissatisfied consumers. Tlie Discussion. Mr. Nash thought the request that new consumers be not connected up, was a reasonable one. A delegate asked how the working of factories at night could be accomplished when awards governed the

employees' hours? Mr. Nash expressed the hope that Mr. Kissel had come armed with a remedy for that. Mr. Kissel thought that in many factories, night shifts were worked and he asked that the power be shifted from the day to the night, where that was the case. Mr. J. W. Kershaw chairman of the Wairarapa Power Board, asked if Mr. Kissel could give the meeting any idea of what reduction was desired from each Board. If that was available, than each Board could discuss ways and means on its own. Mr. Nash mentioned the loss that Boards would sustain as a result of reductions. It might even mean that they would come' out at the end of

the year on the wrong side of the ledger.

Twenty Per Cent. Reduction Wanted,

Mr. ■Kissel metioned what the flaxmillers of Manawatu had done to help the situation. They had agreed to shift from day to night work. If each Board could reduce the units used by 20 per cent, he didn't think there would be much difficulty. Mr. M. A. Eliott: If the water heating was cut out wouldn't that meet the situation? Mr Kissel: Undoubtedly. Mr. Eliott: That would be the best thing to do and give the least inconvenience. Mr. W. A. Waters (Engineer to Manawatu-Oroua Board) intimated that in the Manawatu-Oroua Power Board's area cutting out the water heaters would save between 6,000 and 7,000 units per week. There was the dairying industry to consider, however, and the abolition of hot water from- the farm would result in second grade cream. Mr. Kissel: But quits a lot of water heaters are in houses for domestic purposes only. > What of the Loss? Mr Ransom, M.P., (Pahiatua) pointed out that while the Public Works Department would eventually recoup its present losses, the Power Boards would not. A loss of 20 per cent, revenue to the Boards now would have to be 'met perhaps by the striking of a rate. He thought the Boards might each go into is own position and make what reductionsut could. , What the public was faced with was (not the cost to the Department of meeting the situation, but the reduction of the load. If it cost twice £B,OOO it would not matter as the Department would eventually get back all it had lost.

Mr. A. C. Russell (Central H B.) urged the Boards to stand firmly together and decide straight away what they were prepared to do. His Board was prepared to cut out street lighting and hot water services if the others did the same.

Mr G. A. Monk (Horowhenua) intimated that his Board was also faced with a loss in revenue. As far as the reduction in load was concerned street lighting could very well go. His Board had also asked for hot water' heaters to be cut off but it was purely in the hands of the consumers themselves whether this was done. Some housewives would sooner do without light than without their electric stoves. He was surprised to learn that a reduction of 20 per cent, would meet the situation. However, tho essential industries employing labour must be kept going.

Mr. Nash thought th e Boards should be left to make their own special reductions. What suited one Board might not suit another. For instance in the Manawatu-Oroua district there were 500 heaters out of 700 connected with the dairying industry. These could not be very well cut out. In answer to Mr. M. A. Eliott, Mr. Kissel stated that the cutting out of street lights would not give much assistance.

Mr. Waters, however, pointed out the effect that no street lights would have on the public. It would remind them of the urgency of the situation

A Motion

Air. Kershaw urged that each Board be left- to do its best and moved: —"That representatives of Power Boards and supply authorities taking current from Mangahao undertake to reduce their present day load by 20 per cent, until such time as the Public Works Department is in a position to supply full load; further, that authorities not represented be requested" to agnae to this arrangement." Mr. J. W. Mulr (Palmerston North) said he had calculated that the cutting out of water -heating would save 14 per cent, of the Mangahao -joad and the loss of revenue to the whole' area would only be £1,700. Daytime Keductton Wanted. Mr. a. A. Monk pointed out that the Horowhenua Board had already made a 20 per cent, day load reduction and if it was'asked for a further 20 per cent, it would come hard upon Horowhenua consumers.

Mr. I. R Robinson (Engineer at Mangahao) thought the reduction should apply to the load between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. Mi\ A. Seifert stated that the flaxmillers were running from 6 pm. to 8 p.m. and then from 11 P.m. to 6 a.m, to meet the situation. It would be very hard to penalise the Horowhenua area because it had been early in rising to the Department's requests. Should Tlie Government Stand The Loss? Mr. Patterson (Hastings) urged that Mr Kissel should give someguarantee of Departmental help in the matter of lost revenue especially iii the case of Power Boards in their infancy. Hastings borough was selling power back to the Government at cost and at a less price than the Government was getting for it from the Power Boards. Mr. Ransom thought it not unreasonable to ask the Government to

stand behind the Power Boards in any loss they might suffer. The chairman thought the Department should tak« into consideration reductions already made by certain of the supply authorities. Mr Kissel, the speaker thought, had met the representatives very generously. Mr. Robinson pointed out that he could not very well ask Boards below their guarantee to reduce, until those above their guarantee had been cut down. That is why Horowhenua had suffered so much.

Mr Eliott: This reduction must be made compulsory to be of any use and it should come from the Department. It was.no use leaving it. to the Boards.

Mr. Nash agreed. Resolution Carried.

To meet the" various suggestions brought forward, Mr. Kershaw's solution was amended to read: "That representatives of the supply- author-. ities present undertake to reduce their present loads from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. by 20 per cent, until such time as the Public Works Department is in a position lo supply full loads and that considerations be given, to Boards which have already made reductions and regard to the type of load." This was passed and the Department was asked to give effect to the resolution.

Should The Government Help?

Mr. Ransom then moved that . the Department be asked to meet 75 cent, of the loss that would be sustained by the various Boards, by making these reductions. Mr. Monk supported.

Mr. Kissel however, pointed out that the Boards could stand tho loss as well as the Department. All were partners in the same business. If the motion was earned it would certainly effect the Department's interpretation of the first resolution. They would immediately put a strict interpretation on the various contracts and stop

selling extra power to Boards at a loss.

The chairman thought, the motion rather a drastic one.

Mr. Ransom stated that if Mr. Kissel would go Into the matter., the Boards would be satisfied and no resolution would be necessary.

Mr. Kissel gave that assurance and the meeting concluded. y

The shop day held on Saturday by the committee'of the Women's Institute proved most successful, every article being disposed of. During the day competitions were conducted, the following being the winners: Dinner, Mr T. Moynihan; cake, Mr J. Gagliardi; work basket, Miss R. Christopherson. v The name of the winner of the competition for the coat and baby's bonnet a-ill be announced later.

The Palmerston . North railway station has been raised in grade '.uul is now on the snme basis as Auckland and Christehurch. This will necessitate the appointment- of an assistant stationmaster.

On Tuesday a two-seater car travel- , ling north from Wellington, and owned by a Wellington resident, caught lire on'the Wirokino Road on the Foxton side of the bridge, and Ayas totally destroyed. What was left of the vehicle was taken into Poxton. It is understood that the car was covered by insurance.

A New Zealand record for the price tor a yearling was established.at .Wellington on Tuesday when D. G. Greenwood, of Christehurch, bought a chestnut colt by Limond from the Absurd mare Homage, who' is a sister to Humbug, Epitaph, Commendation, Eulalie snd Fulsome.- Bidding opened at 500 i/uineas and quickly rose to and closed at 2300 guineas.

All hough the water position in Pal-merston-North is still serious, the put- • ting into operation of the Council's decision to restrict the use of hoses, saved the town 7000 gallons yesterday, The level of the reservoir, however, is still four inches below the lip. of the -overflow. It; lias been calculated that the I(R«Kisusing 500,000 gallons more water than is flowing into the dam. I,IL \ [ A serious increase in the number of"' men out of wcrk was reported at a meeting of the Palnurston North Unemployment Committee yesterday Inspector Lowden stated that there were 120''men on the unemployed list, of whom 77 were married men, with 25"> % dependents. It was decided to publish on appeal to the public to provide casual labour. Mr Nash, M.P., stated that he would forwaid the list of unemployed to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Works.

A Te Awamutn motomt had a lively experience just before midday on Saturday. He was motoring between Kihilcihi and Te Awamutu when lie noticed an unusual buzzing noise, and he stopped the, car to investigate. The trouble turned ou~ to be a big swarm of !j('(s which were settling round a aueen bee located just under the,hood of the car. The motorist promptly set to work with his hat to dislodge them, and he must have disturbed the queen, for gradually tlie number of insects under the hood diminished. He then jumped into the car and raced out of the danger zone, much pleased at his lucky escape, for he did not experience even one sting.