ARAPUNI DELAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 67, 10 June 1927, Page 11

ARAPUNI DELAY

MEETING THE SHORTAGE AUXILIARY PLANT MINISTER PROMISES ASSISTANCE (From Our Oxen Correspondent .) HAMILTON, Friday. JHE HON. K. S. WILLIAMS, Minister of Public Works, assured a conference here yesterday that the Government would do its best to give the power boards in the Auckland province a full supply, pending the completion of the Arapuni scheme. Mr. T. M. Kissel, chief electrical engineer, explained that the power available in the district was 42,000 k.w., 38,000 of which could be used continuously and 4,000 for a limited period during peak loads. It was anticipated that the maximum load until the end of 1928 would not exceed 42,000 k.w., and that there was sufficient plant in the district to meet the demands of the next 18 months, not providing, of course, for accidents. Air. Kissel said the present plant available in South Auckland was capable of generating 42,650 kilowatts. The plant included King’s Wharf, 24,500 k.w.; Hora Hora, 10,300; McLaren’s Falls, 2,200; Grand Junction, 2,500; dairy factories, 1,000; Rotorua Diesel. 150; Te Aroha and Thames, 100; Devonport, 300; Farmers’ Fertiliser Co.. 400. COUNTRY BOARDS Mr. J. T. Johnson, chairman of the Te Awamutu Power Board, said he would have liked to hear a fuller statement from the department of how it proposed to meet the increased exU oditure which the Government had go=: itself into through letting contracts which it intended and expected to fulfil, but was unable to do so. The country power boards would not help. Mr. Furkert, engineer-in-chief of the Public Works, said the Government had fulfilled its contract. The power boards wanted this extra power just as much as the Government wanted to sell it, and if extra expense was to be incurred to get it the department thought the people who wanted it should assist in paying for it. The Minister said it was the ultimate intention of the Government to link up Arapuni with Waikaremoana, but he would prefer to see additional plant installed than to link up the two stations at the present time. ~ Mr. Holdsworth said they were all in the same fix and should pull together to get out of it. It would be extremely dangerous for his board to run too close to the wind. AUXILIARY PLANT The Minister said that if there had not been the rapidly increased demand the department could have carried on with its present plant. Mr. Dean said that as provision was suggested for 5,000 k.w. of the extra supply for Auckland, as against 1,000 k.w. for the balance of the area. Auckland should pay five-sixths of the cost. Mr. Furkert said that was exactly what was proposed. The charge would be according to the extra power used. Mr. Kissel said the extra average cost on the calculated Auckland supply would be £ 9 3s 6d, whereas the Auckland Board would probably get at least £3O per k.w. Mr. Hayden moved, and Mr. Kennings seconded, “That this conference approves of the purchase of auxiliary plant by the Public Works Department to carry over until the completion of Arapuni.” Mr. Furkert said the Government had anticipated paying a little under 50 per cent, in the writing off when the plant went out of use. MR. HOLDSWORTH NOT SANGUINE Mr. Kissel said that Arapuni will be finished by next winter. Mr. Holdsworth: I would like to think so. (Laughter.) The motion was carried. The following estimated increases during the coming year were given by, the various delegates: Auckland, 1,000 k.w.; Central, 300; Franklin, 250; Bay of Plenty (initial), 575; Waitomo. 0; To Awamutu, 100: Thames Valley, GOO; Rotorua, 60; Cambridge, 30; Hamilton, 100. Mr. Furkert said that as the total estimated extra requirements fell short of the Government’s expectations by 2,000 k.w., he did not think there would be any necessity for any additional plant. (Laughter.) Mr. Holdsworth made a strong appeal against nierely ‘“waiting to see.” and urged the department to make perfectly sure that there would be no hold-up in supply. The Minister said he fully realised the importance of the point stressed by Mr. Holdsworth.