HYDRO-ELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1919, Page 7

HYDRO-ELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT

- i COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO NEW < PLYMOUTH SCHEME. OBJECTIONS BY MOA BOAD BOARD. j ] The commission of inquiry set up to investi- j gate the objections raised by the Moa Road Board, to the license applied for by the New Plymouth Borough Council for the right to j develop and supply electric power over an extended area, held a sitting at the Magis- ■ trate's Court, New Plymouth yesterday. At 10 a.m., the Commissioner, Mr. W. S. Short, Under-Secretary for Public Works, took his , seat, and Mr. A. H. Kimbell, also of the Public Works Department, acted as clerk. There were also present Mr. Ronald H. Quiiliam, soli- ( citor for the Borough Council, Mr. K. H. i Bartloy, electrical engineer to the Council, ' and Mr. Jas. Clarke, chairman of the Electric Light Committee. • After waiting In silence for a little while, the clerk remarked there appeared to be no , objectors present, and a search was made of the precincts of the Court, but no oue representing tho Moa Road Board could be found. In reply to the Commissioner, Mr. Quiiliam eaid ho had not heard of any solicitor appearing on tho other side. Re thought it possible that the objections tnlglit have fizzled out, as the opinion throughout the district seemed almost entirely on tho side of the Borough Council. They had, in fact over 20 witnesses present from all parts of Taranakl who would give evidence In support of the application. In the meantime, tho telephone service had to to be requisitioned in order If possible to find out if the Moa Road Board representatives had left Inglewood. It was stated by Mr. Quiiliam that the Mayor of Inglewood (Mr. J. Sutherland), who was present, that he had seen Mr. Lyon in Ingleflood that morning, after the train had left for Now Plymouth, so that it was evident he was not coming In by that means. Telephone advice was received to tho effect that the chairman and clerk of the Moa Road BoaTd were away In Wellington in connection with business relating to the proposed Inglewood County. Mr, Quiiliam suggested that in order to give the objectors an opportunity of appearing and stating their objections the opening of the inquiry should be delayed until 11 o'clock, and . this was agreed to. A little before 11 o'clock the representatives , of the Road Board arrived, and the inquiry was proceeded with. Mr. Kimbell read the Commission's order of reference. Mr, Quiiliam appeared for the Borough Council. The Taranakl County Council and the I Inglewood Borough Council, who were parties [ in the matter, were unrepresented, though J Mr. Quiiliam stated that the chairman and » Mayor respectively, were present, and wouldI give evidence. Thr Moa Road Board was repre- , sented by Messrs. J. H. Lyon and D. Todd. Tho Commissioner asked if there were any objections to the New Plymouth Council's application, other than the Moa Road Board, and no one answered. • MOA ROAD BOARD OBJECTIONS. Mr. Shortt then went over the order of reference and detailed the objections raised by the Moa Road Board, which were as follows (1.) That the Taranakl County Council were Injuring the prospects of ratepayers of the proposed Inglewood County by giving consent to powers that aro contentious and inimical | to a local scheme now under way embracing the whole area of the proposed Inglewood Couuty. (2.) That the scheme of the New Plymouth Borough Council Is a pure attempt at exploitation, and a monopoly festered on the common water Tights of the people. I (3.) That the prices proposed to be charged to power boards and nearly treble those charged by the Government to Christchurch City—viz., £l2 per horse-power per annum—from the Lake Coleridge supply. (4.) That the objectors maintain that the Power Boards Act of 1918, was designed to enable local bodies to develop Bmall schemes ' to serve their respective districts, and not to grant monopolies for the exploitation of power by any one town or city. (5.) That the area to which the extension applies contains the site of a probable station of the Inglewood County and also traverses the Manganui River, from which the Inglewood County proposes to generate their power. (6.) That a great deal of secrecy has been observed by the New Pljraouth Borough Council in its operations, and the objectors suggest that public: enquiry should be made into profits and the method of procedure. What the Commission had to enquire into was, said Mr. Short, whether or not it is in the public interest that the New Plymouth Burough Council's application should be granted: (a.) As to the whole area; (b) as to any portion of the said area, aud If so, which portions of such area; (c) as to any land lying outside tho boundaries of the prom posed area, and if so, what lard; (d) as to , any modification of tho proposed area. Mr. Lyons handed in a letter from tho Tvond Board's solicitor, written on September 23rd, in regard to the formation of an electrical power district, stating that tho matter was being pushed on, and he hoped to have the petition, which was signed by the requisite number of ratepayers ready for advertising within a few days. He also put In a telegram from the chairman of the Moa Rord Board which said that reports that the Inglewood County {if constituted) would object to transmission lines going through their area were without foundation.. When the Power Board Act passed the Moa Road Board saw tho possibilities of yoking up the water power, of which there was abundance In Taranakl, and of constituting a. rower Board District. Application was mado For a license ovor an extended area for the proposed Inglewood County. Then it was found that the ' New Plymouth Borough Council's scheme cut Into the power board area of the proposed Inglewood County. The Inglowood Borough Council had also applied for an enlarged area of the two districts praolicnlly blotted out the area of the the proposed Inglowood County Power District. Mr. Lyon then wont on to discuss tho price of current as supplied to the city of Christchurch compared with the price proposed to bo charged by the New Plymouth Council. Tho Commissioner pointed out that the Christchurch Council took a laTge bulk lead at a time when there were no other wholesale consumers, and consequently got a much luwer rate than would bo possible now. It was also certain that when tho present contract expired it could not be renewed at any- ' thing lilce the present price. ) Mr. Lyon then suggested that there ap- : peared to have been some collusion botween j the New Plymouth Council and the Inglewood Council to prevent the Moa Road Board from forming a power board. He thought if the application of the New Plymouth Council was granted his district would be placed at a big disadvantage in not being able to enjoy cheap power, and ho considered that inimical to the interests of the district. Ho stated there was a combined desire on the part of local bodies to have power generated by the Government, and replies to that effect had been received by the Moa Road Board to a circular sent out on the subject. Mr. Lyon put in the replies received. A WITNESS EXAMINED. Mr. QulUlam: Is the New Plymouth Council's reply there? Mr. Lyon: Yes; though it Is not very enthusiastic. As a matter of fact, I did not know a circular had been sent to the New Plymouth Council. Continuing, Mr. Lyr.o s u'd the New Plymouth Council proposed to **nernto on 3000 horsepower, and that waft co v. £165,000, while « the total cost 4000-hp. scheme was

£200,000, which represented £55 per h.p. for the smaller scheme, and £25 per h.p. for tho complete scheme. He therefore suggested H was a waste of money to develop only the 8000-h.p. scheme. In reply to the Commissioner, Mr. Lyon Bold his district would support the New Plymouth scheme If the 8000-h.p. was developed at once and Tetailed at k figure near the Government cost. Mr. Quiiliam protested at tin lines Mr. Lyon was proceeding, but the Commissioner suggested that such a wituess should be allowed to go along In his own way. He also remarked that Mr. Lyon had not given much evidence in support of the objection lodged. Mr. Lyon then referred to the charge of £l2 per h.p. per annum to the Inglewood Council, and some interchance of ideas took place between him and' Mr. Quiiliam as to the amount, and it was' pointed out that It was a quarterly charge based upon the load factor, and might not amount to £l2 per h.p. per annum. Cross-examined by Mr. Quiiliam, Mr. Lyon Bald he could give no Idea of how long it would be before the Moa Road Board or proposed Inglewood County could become a power board. No steps had been taken to ascertain tho power available in {he rivers In the district. There had been some superficial Investigations. Mr. Crooks, of Auck* land had estimated that GBS-h,p. could be developed in the Manganui River for £9500. The Moa District had not discussed, the purchase of power from the New Plymouth Coun- : ell, and retailing It qb a power board. Prom the capacity and unreasonableness of the Council they deemed it would be a waste of time. He thought the cost per h.p. of the Manganui scheme would be £2O. The Commissioner: That would only be the cost of the heßd works Mr. Lyon said that If his district could get power from New Plymouth cheaper than any other scheme they would certainly deal with them. * David Todd, a member of the Moa Road Board, said tho attempt to undermine the efforts of the residents of his district to form 1 a power board, would be inimical to tho interests of tho rising generation and efforts; should be made to secure power at the cheapest j possible price. If a license for a large l area was granted to another body It would 1 be impossible for a small power district to I compete with such a body. i In reply to Mr. Quiiliam, he said he knew! very little about electrical matters. He i knew there was a plentiful supply of water in the rivers of the dlßtrlct that ought to 1 be utilised. He thought if there was any difference between the price charged by the Lako Coleridge Power Board and that to be charged by the New Plymouth Council, the latter should bo cheaper. He had not con- 1 sidered what It would cost to develop electrical power in the Moa district. This concluded the evidence for the ob- ! jectors, EVIDENCE FOR NEW PLYMOUTH SCHEME, i Mr. Quiiliam said he did not think any real objection had been raised which was entitled to be given serious consideration. There was practically only one objector and that was Mr. Lyon himself. Taranakl had tho name of being very parochial, but there was one matter on which tho dlffereut districts were in unanimous agreement, namely, that the application of the Now Plymouth Council for the extended area of supply of electric power should be granted. Ho then proceeded to call evidence. Arthur Morton, who detailed t»u» «übllo positions which he held to show that lie represented a large proportion of the producers of tho district, said he was a ratepayer of the Moa district. He said the interest he ropre« sented required electric power very badly, and the demand was likely to increase. Electric power was used at two of his dairy companies factories, and the result was so satisfactory (hat they wanted it for other factories as soon as possible. The companies that had completed arrangements with the New Plymouth Borough Council were well satisfied, and did not consider they had been had. The bacon factory at Inglewood took current from the Inglewood Borough Council at 2d per unit. Tho Taranakl Producers' Company took current from the New Plymouth Council at Id per unit. In reply to the Commissioner, Mr. Morton said ho did not think the ratepayers of tne Moa district were behind the members of the Board in their objection to the applications by the New Plymouth Borough Council. Albert E. Burwoll, chairman of directors of tho Kaimata Dairy Company, said a meeting of the directors had decided ho should glvo 1 evidence before the Commission. The supply of power through the New Plymouth scheme 1 had been discussed by the directors, who ! wanted power as soon ' as they could get it. i He thought tho demand for power could bo 1 ; best and most qolckly met, by the New Ply- | mouth scheme. He supported the National , scheme, but felt It would be a very long time before power would be available in Taranakl for the scheme. Mr. Lyon said that as the Kaimata Dairy 1 Company's factory was outside the proposed 1 area, the evidence was not in point. ' In reply to the Commissioner, tho witness | said £l2 per h.p. per annum would not be l ' too much for him. He would take It at ' almost any price. ; David George Gow, chairman of the Eltham and District Hydro-Electrical League, said the 1 league embraced all the companies doing busl--1 ness In and around Eltham. They had investigated the sources of supply of electrical energy in the district, and had come to the conclusion that tho only feasible scheme , was that o? tho New Plymouth Borough , Council. If the application were refused, tho Eltham district would be cut out of * electric current for the next ten or fifteen , years, : In reply to the Commissioner, Mr. Gow said they had been assured by engineers that thes : could get tho power from the New Plymouth [ Council In bulk, and retail It in Eltham : to consumers at a profit. The price to be charged would be somewhere near Government rates. ' Charles J. Belcher, chairman of the Eltham J County Council, etc , said there was a big 3 demand for electric power in the district, both , for lighting and heating and power. The 1 trouble orer fuel at the dairy factories made J them somewhat Impatient for electrical power. 1 Ho favored tho National scheme, but felt that was a 16ng way off for Taranakl, and in that case he thought the New Plymouth Council's ' scheme was the most likely to meet the demand } in the shortest time. He was not much 3 concerned at the cost. After hlB experience 3 of the past season in regard to fuel supply p he recognised they must get power almost at whatever cost was asked. 1 Frederick J. Davis, electrical engineer to the " Patea Borough Council, said the position of tho Council In regard to electrical power was I bad. There was a big demand for power in the town and surrouuding district. Re was sent to the Commission to support the 1 Now Plymouth Borough's application for a * license for the extended area, as it was ' believed tho larger National schemo. would be 3 many years in reaching Taranakl, and If the Now Plymouth scheme was cut out it would 3 mean that the district would bo cut out from 1 power for a long time. He was fully prc--1 pared to recommend his Council and com--0 panies to negotiate for power with New Ply--3 mouth. It was unreasonable to compare the '• prices charged in Christchurch and Inglewood. y He considered £l2 per h p. per annum, under

tho circumstances, a reasonable chaige. Philip Skoglund, town clerk, Stratford Borough Council, Bald If power could bo supplied his Council at their boundary at 2d por unit It would pay them. There was a demand lor power that tho Council could not supply at present, hut Steps wera being taken to Increase the power genorated. They had also asked the New Plymouth- Council to quote a price for the supply of eurrontHe thought current at £l2 per h p. pay the Council to buy. Ho understood It worked out at a little more than I<l per unit. Wm. It. Wright, chairman of the Egmont County Council, etc., said the demand for electric power was so great In his district that a deputation had waited on the Council to ask that steps should be taken to ascertain on what conditions power could be got from New Plymouth. Ho had been so impressed with tho information furnished him, that he had called a special meeting of his Council to consider the advisability of forming a power board for the Egmont district, and he gave an assurance that the board would be formed. There were 15 factories in the district which were all wanting, power. In reply to Mr. Lyon, he said there was a small scheme at Opunake, but tho promoters did not expect to bo able to supply beyond a mile or two outside of Opunake. George Young, ex-Mayor of Inglewood, sala he was chairman of the Lighting Committee of tho Council when the contract was entered into with the New riymouth Council, and he detailed tho negotiations In connection with the undertaking. Tho past and present Council were satisfied with the deal made. Inglewood had arranged to supply the whole of the district. now marked off by the Moa Road Board as their proposed power district. The Council had Investigations mode by Mr. Crooks, of Auckland, who advised them that the Maunganui schemo would be too expensive for a small district to develop with profit. H» recognised a large area as an Inducement to go in for its scheme. Cross-examined by Mr. Lyon,, witness sain thero was no move for a local power board In tho Moa Road District when the Inglewood Borough was negotiating with the New Plymouth Borough Council. John Sutherland, Mayor Of Inglewood, said his Council desired the contract entered Into with the New Plymouth Council executed at the very earliest possible moment. Tho ratepayers of the Moa district had approached the Council with a view to securing additional electrical power. If the New Plymouth Council did not get Its extended area the Inglewood Council would be deprived of its chance of getting the power required. There was no collusion between tho Inglewood and Now Plymouth Councils to squash the Moa Road Board's chance of forming a power board. Wm. Stewart, electrical engineer to the Inglewood Borough Council, said tho cost of generation of power was aDout 4%d per unit to consumer, or £3l per h.p. He was satisfied the Manganul supply was not big enough for Taranakl, and would be too expensive for the Borough of Inglewood. It would cost about £17,000 for 685-h.p. John S. Connett, chairman of the Taranakl County Council, etc., also gave evidence as to tho demand for power by the concerns In which ho was Interested. Russell H. Bartley, olcctrlcal engineer to the New Plymouth Borough Council, said he had Investigated every source of supply In the Taranakl district before advising the Council to extend Its present activities on the Waiwakaiho. In regard to the Manganul River he measured It in December, lfllT. at three different points and came to the conclusion that tho most water to bo got out of it was 140 cublo feei per second ThU showed that for a satisfactory development there would have to be a big Impoundnge scheme. The cost of such would be very heavy, and he had found, that a scheme to produce 480-h.p. would cost £40.000 as estimated In 1917, and to-day would be B0 per cent, more than that. His opinion was that tho Maunganul was of no practicable use for any scheme of more than 500-h.p. More than that could be developed, but It would be an expensive process.

In reply to the Commissioner, Mr. Hartley an Id If the area of the Mem ltuad District was excluded the Council would probably only ro on and produce sufficient power for Its own use, and It would cost very much more to penerate that power. He would advise hla Council not to go on with the blj scheme on account of the cost If that area was excluded. The hearing was adjourned till 10 a.m. today.