SUPPLYING POWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1022, 12 July 1930, Page 16

SUPPLYING POWER

AUCKLAND BOARDS AGREE ON POLICY WANT DAYLIGHT SAVING i Special to Till 7 SUN HAMILTON, Today. Vafmers throughout the Auckland | Province will experience no difficulty ; :ii securing an adequate supply of electricity for their milking plants , • luring the coming season, according ! to a conference of power board delegates, held at Hamilton yesterday. A resolution calling for the immediate introduction of daylight saving as a means of relieving the position was pass€;d. Auckland, W'aitemata, Te Awamutu, Franklin, Central. Thames Valley, AVaitomo and Cambridge Power Boards nd the Hamilton Borough Council were represented at this meeting, which was held to formulate a uniform policy regarding supply during the present shortage. The district electrical engineer, Air. T. MacLennan, said the total amount of power to which boards were asked to reduce their requirements after the stoppage at Arapuni was 11,700 k.w. On June 20 the quantity used was J 2,200 k.w. AA r aitomo and Thames .Valley had reduced their loads below The allocations, while AVaitemata and Franklin had consumed more than A>ther boards over the allocations. Mr. MacLennan estimated that in September, the peak month. there would be 17.300 k.w. available from existing plants, exclusive of Auckland. It was etimated that the demand gf The country power boards would not exceed 13.920 k.w. The department had a maximum plant capacity of roughly 18,000 k.w., and was supplying 2,000 k.w. less than this at present. Mr. AA'. J. Holdsworth. chairman of The Auckland Board, asked if it was fair to expect Auckland to feed back .'5,000 k.w. when the department had power in reserve. Afr. MacLennan replied that the department ran its Penrose Diesel plant full out to help Auckland, and it was not advisable to do that often. Mr. R. H. Bartley, general manager inf the Auckland Board, acknowledged That when a serious breakdown had occurred in a portion of the King’s AVliarf plant the department relieved the plant and enabled extensive repairs to be carried out in 30 hcuirs. DAYLIGHT SAVING ESSENTIAL

That daylight saving was essential was the view advanced by several members. Mr. MacLennan said it would make a difference of between 500 and 3.000 k.w. in the quantity of power available. • Mr. Bartley pointed out that with daylight saving the heavy tramway load would not clash with the lighting Joad, and there would be a bigger gap between the industrial and country loads. Mr. Holdsworth said the Government should increase its Horahora load by raising the level of the headrace by 3ft, and by running its three Penrose Diesel plants. Another 2,000 k.w. « ould be obtained at Horahora if money were spent* there. The Auckland Board had not hesitated about spending £. 150,000 on new plant, and lie thought the Government should expedite action to relieve the position. If daylight saving were introduced immediately the board should be able to help the country districts in three weeks. The conference unanimously resolved to urge the Government to introduce immediately an hour's daylight saving. After discussion resolutions were assuring farmers that the supply would be maintained, and calling on the Government to expedite the execution of a plant at Huntlv.

Boards will not canvass for new customers, but will supply new plants on existing lines.