POWER RELIEF

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1014, 3 July 1930, Page 13

POWER RELIEF

ATTITUDE IN PROVINCE CRITICISED CITY A “CHOPPING-BLOCK” In approving of the representations made by the chairman of the Auckland Electric Power Board, Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, and the general manager, Mr. R. H. Bartley, at the power supply consultations in Wellington, board members at a meeting this morning, made significant comment on the attitude of power boards of the province and on the general willingness to shelve the burden on to the Auckland Board.

“It seems that we are being made the ( hupping-block for everyone,’’ declared one member. The board agreed with the plan of action suggested to the Prime Minister. the lion. G. AY. Forbes, and the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. W. the negotiations & in hand 1 loV* the ordering of a supply of 15,000 kilowatts for Auckland. Mr. Holdsworth and Mr. Bartley both said that it was likely that Auckland would be relieved by this plant before May next year. Care was at present being taken, before the plant was actually ordered from the remarkable number of offers received from overseas, to decide the suitability of the machinery to link with King’s AVharf, and it might be found necessary to order two 7,500 kilowatt sets. Mr. Holdsworth said the full text of lho board’s representations had not been published. The actual points suggested to relieve the city and province as quickly as possible were; 1. The board to purchase a 15,000 k.y . plant and instal at King’s Wharf and have in operation before Mav 3931. :. The Government to be responsible foi the payment, of 50 per cent, of the standby plant ceasesV«» W i.peril , 3- The Government to meet th< Auck--1:uk1 board in the cost, of local coals bv reducing the railway freights, or bv any other means, so that the cost a ton to the Auckland board will not exceed that paid before tin- Kifig’s Wharf station was closed down, to transfer its loading to Hi* Government hydro scheme. able position that the Auc khVnrl J b<ctVd '\s imw placed in comparison with the Auckland provincial boards on account of the closing down »f the Arapuni supplv, the Government will take into consideration this position when fixing the price to be paid for power, when it is in a position it will compensate the Auckland 1 board lor the added difference in cost of producing power, compared with the cost that the Government has charged, or is charging, to the provincial boards. •». 'The Auckland board to supply ali available power to the Government after providing for its own area. The price to be charged to be the net cost of production only. PROMISE TO COUNTRY It had been pointed out that Auckland could not shoulder all the responsibility, and. unless the Government agreed to the reasonable request, the position would react seriously on industrial life. In fact, in the electrical industry, unemployment was already resulting. The board’s points were now before Cabinet, and a decision was expected within a day or two regarding the demands of the board. ” The board had asked only sufficient to cover itself in liability. Mr. Taverner had definitely promised provincial power boards, that they would not pay any more for power, so Auckland thought its claims were justified. Some of the I points had already been acceded to. In moving approval of the representations. Mr. K. H. Potter said the board had done its best for industry and for the province. He would like to see the Government persevere with water-power instead of considering a. steam plant at Huntly. The Huka Falls, where there was a natural dam, was a possible site. It was now the duty of the Government to strive io protect the dam at Arapuni from possible damage. Mr. J. Park was opposed to the spending of more money in “playing with Arapuni.” He thought other boards were being “spoon-fed’’ by the Government while Auckland was being forced to carry the burden. The board should concentrate on the proposals in hand. Mr. J. Dempsey agreed with this view, saying the board could claim justice after it had accomplished its work. “Our position regarding the agreement with the Government is practically unassailable,” said the chairman. ASSISTANCE TO PROVINCE Mr. T. Bloodworth was not satisfied with the reasons advanced by the co il owners for the increase in price they were suggesting. Then again. it seemed to him that the country power boards had been ungrateful. Arapuni had been built in the interests of the province and Auckland had sacrificed a good deal when it agreed to abondon its City steam-plant. The City had assisted the country frequently, ’and the provincial boards should realise what Auckland had done to aid the development of power in the province. “I think the country boards showed a poor spirit at the conference,” said Mr. R. G. Clark. “They have been ‘spoon-fed.’ It seems that we are the chopping-block for everyone.” The chairman anticipated a bitter discussion on the power position in the House within a few days. The board had been forced to place its case before Members of Parliament to prevent the obscuring of its interests in a party wrangle. The board had received definite instructions from the Government to buy emergency plant, and the Government would pay half the costs of the stand-by plant. “The ignorance in the South of the true position is remarkable,” added the chairman. “Even the Prime Minister asked what power we were still receiving from the Government, when the board is utterly dependent on its own supply. And still, the board should emerge successfully from a trying period.” Mr. Bartley announced that the board would be able to relieve regulation of the power supply within five or six weeks and there would bo no need to limit applications for supply. The position would be relieved by lengthening hours of daylight.