AUCKLAND’S CONCERN

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 999, 16 June 1930, Page 1

AUCKLAND’S CONCERN

Adequate Power During Winter BOARD’S PREVIOUS WARNING Head-Race to b€; Steel-Lined ? AUCKLAND’S present concern is the provision of an adequate supply of electric power during the winter months. The present urgent need is to get the various Power Boards’ and Public Works Department’s engineers together and find out what can be done in regard to supplementing the power supply pending the completion of the Arapuni repairs.

This statement, given to a Sun representative this morning, represents the opinion o£ Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, chairman of tho Auckland ElectricPower Board. Mr. Holdsworth was asked this morning whether he favoured the suggestion put forward by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce that a commission of inquiry consisting of a judge of the Supreme Court, and independent engineers should be formed to consider steps in the best interest of the future of Arapuni. Mr. Holdsworth has just returned from Wellington, where he interviewed the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. W. B. Taverner. He stated that the extent and nature of the repairs would undoubtedly depend largely upon the geologist’s report, and until that was presented very little good could be achieved by any inquiry. When the full report was presented an inquiry might be desirable, but the most pressing need at the moment, and tho one that most concerned the Auckland Board, was the provision in the meantime of an adequate supply. The chairman expressed the opinion that Arapuni would be out of commission for some time. He also expressed regret that the authorities had not seen fit to repair the erosion trouble at the falls below the spillway when it came unaer notice in August of last vear. On September 9 following a visit to Arapuni, Mr. Holdsworth made the following statement to The Sun: ‘lt seems inevitable that the river must be diverted and the power-house closed down until repairs are effected. Our great concern is that this should be done before the winter, when there will be a heavy demand for power. . . . It is essential that this should be done as early as possible.” Ou that occasion, Mr. Holdsworth said that if the repairs at the falls were carried out during the summer, the board, with its own plant and with ; 331star.ce from the other stations, ■would be able, not only to provide for its requirements, but also assist other districts at times when it was not on its peak load. Three days later Mr. Holdsworth left for Wellington to urge upon the Minister of Public Works the need for the utmost urgency in pushing-on with the preventive works before the winter. “It was unfortunate that this work was not done at the time,” commented Mr. Holdsworth this morning. ‘‘Now we are in the very unfortunate position of being like a retailer with a big demand, unable to obtain sufficient stock.” SHOULD BE STEEL-LINED Mr. Holdsworth mentioned that while he was away, a prominent engineer, not connected with the Public Works Department, had expressed the opinion that tho head-race, in addition to being concreted, should be steellined so as to make it absolutely independent and free of the influence

of the surrounding country. This, however, was a question that would have to be considered later, when the department’s report was presented. “When the report is available tho Minister has promised to call a £pnference of all the power boards concerned,’’ said Mr. Holdsworth, “but in the meantime I am trying to arrange for Mr. F. W. Furkert, chief engineer of the Public Works Department, to meet representatives of the various boards as soon as possible, in order to discuss what can be done in regard to the present supply." On his way back from Wellington Mr. Holdsworth visited Arapuni, and, with Mr. Furkert and other engineers, inspected the works. It is expected that Mr. Furkert will remain at Arapuni until tomorrow. At King’s Wharf an easy week-end demand -was easily carried. With the resumption of normal business today, however, the station will again be taxed to nearly full capacity, and the co-operation of consumers is again sought in distributing the load as much as possible, particularly during the peak hours between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.