The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1919. HYDRO-ELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 March 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1919. HYDRO-ELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT.

The meeting held at Stratford on Monday supplied further evidence of the awakening of the people of Tsiranaki to the enormous gain to be derived by the energetic exploitation of its water power for providing electric current. Not only will hydro-electric development be of the greatest assistance in the economic working of established industries, as well as a welcome boon to settlers in every district, but it renders possible the creation of new industries the need for which is generally felt. Last week Eltham took the initial step towards securing electric power. Stratford already possesses a generating plant of limited capacity. What is wanted is a scheme that can supply the needs of the whole of the province, and it was with the idea.of pushing oa the. develop-

ment of such a scheme that a meeting of the Taranaki Hydro-Elec-tric League was held at Stratford, j It is generally recognised that the provision of hydro-electric power is one of the most pressing needs of the day. Wellington finds that its steam generating plant, besides being expensive and dependant otf fuel supplies which at times are not reliable is heavily overtaxed, and the position with regard to supply of electric current has become acute. That is why much attention is being centred on the Mangahao scheme, and the advocacy of pressure being exerted on the Government to prosecute the enterprise with all possible energy. Water power for generating electricity is not only much cheaper than steam, but it can be utilised on a much greater scale. It costs Auckland, with a most efficient steam plant, 0.9 d per unit, but the Lake Coleridge current can be sold at less than half that price. There is no doubt about the market for electric current, for people are only too anxious to get it if it can be supplied at a reasonable rate, nor is there any question of the business success of any sound hy-dro-electric scheme. Lake Coleridge, despite the heavy capital cost of the undertaking, the supply of current at 'a very low rate, and its limited development, earned enough in its third year to pay working expenses and interest, besides being able to devote a surplus to depreciation. The great advantage of any properly managod hydro-electric scheme is that it is not brought into being to make profits, but to supply current at as low a price as possible, yet any surplus that may be available can be devoted to extension, so that in time large areas may be supplied and their progress and prosperity advanced. It was stated at the Stratford meeting that aecord : ng to +he Government flee trical engineer (Mr. Parry) therj is not sufficient power in Taranaki for a boosting scheme, but we vei:twre to doubt the accuracy of th;:: opin'on. Mr. Bartley, the eal engineer of the New Plymouth Borough, poinled out that a 6000-;Lcise-power scheme was available at New Plymouth, adding that the Lake Coleridge scheme had at j present a capacity of only 8000, andthat 6000 would meet Taranaki 's needs for some time. This, while being good news for Taranaki, emphasises the wisdom of the New Plymouth authorities in adopting Mr. Blair Mason's scheme. Moreover, as was mentioned by Mr. McPhillips, not only was benzine a waste as compared with electricity, but the money paid therefor was going out of the* country. Any provincial scheme can be so carried out as to St in with the Government scheme when in the dim distant future it materialises, but time presses, and it would undoubtedly be unwise to wait. It is unfortunate that the large volume of water in the Waitara river suffers from the disadvantage of not being harnessable, except at great cost, owing to not having a head. To meet present needs there should be one big scheme for Taranaki. Such a scheme can be obtained if the various public bodies so desire. At the same tiim; it is quite right to bring pressure on the Government, though it would be inadvisable to rely on any help from that quarter for many years to come. The proposal that the Minister of Public Works on his visit to Taranaki should be accompanied by the Government electrical engineer has its advantages, and when that official becomes acquainted with the uctuni facts as regards hydro-elec-tric development in Taranaki hemay be able to give valuable advice as to the feasibility and pros pects pfa provincial scheme. The Leagu-.' is performing a good service to the community in vigorously pushing on the development of hydro-electricity. Rural areas, as well iv boroughs and townships, are intimately concerned in the matter and if the New Plymouth or any other effective scheme can be of service to the rest of Taranaki it would be a source of satisfaction, for the interests of the province as a. whole are immeasurably greater than those of any portion of it.