The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1921. PENNY WISE, POUND FOOLISH.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 August 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1921. PENNY WISE, POUND FOOLISH.

The New Plymouth Borough Council finally decided at its meeting on Monday not to proceed with the widening of No. 2 tunnel, now in course of construction, in order to deal with greater water power that may be developed in the future. The consulting engineers reported some time ago that as the result of an inspection of the watersheds of the Waiwakaiho and its tributaries, they believed that additional water could be turned into the basin of the Waiwakaiho and Mangamahoe and stored there at an elevation that would allow of the water being drawn off as required into the dam. “With such an adjunct,” the repoi-t proceeded, “the flexibility of the station would be increased, and provision made for dry spells which are common to and affect, more or less, all hydro undertakings.” The engineers suggested that the evidence gained pointed to the desirability of a detailed examination and survey being made so as to ascertain definitely what additional power was available. The town manager went into the matter fully, and strongly recommended the council to have the investigation made. He suggested that the council should consider enlarging the tunnel to provide for a fourth pipe line if it could not see its way to adopt the proposal to make additional provision at the forebay. The council debated the question on several occasions, and now has reaffirmed its previous decision not to have the investigation made. To our mind the council has failed in its duty by the town and province, and we trust ratepayers will not allow a matter of such vital importance to them to rest where it is. The council is pursuing a short-sighted and unwise policy. The cost of having a detailed examination of the hydro possibilities would be small compared with tlie possible benefits to be obtained, and the delay involved in the concreting of the would not be worth considering. To increase the diameter of the tunnel would necessitate an extra expenditure of under £2OOO and for the forebay, etc., £3,400, a sum of a little over £5OOO. This amount is infinitesimal in a work that will ultimately cost over half a million. The council, of course, is not justified in incurring this expenditure unless it is satisfied that, the extra power can be gained, but how can it say that until a proper survey is made? It is a. duty it owes to ratepayers, and the people of the whole province, that, before it proceeds with the concreting of No. 2 tunnel the' possibilities mentioned by the engineers should be thoroughly investigated. As it is the council, led by the Mayor, simply sets itself up against the experts, and says, in effect, that the tunnel as at present, designed will take all the available water. One councillor indeed says it will cope with

three times the minimum flow of the river, losing sight of the fact, that the crux of the whole scheme is the storage of the water, and that the greater tho storage facilities the greatei’ the power that can be generated. The Mayor said the extra tunnel would not be wanted in the next decade, possibly not within 15 years, and by that time the council would be able to buy power over and above the 9000 h.p. provided for in the big scheme. How can the Mayor, or, anyone else, say what the demand for power will be in the future ? The experience with hydro-electricity everywhere is that the demand is always greater than the supply, and we have no doubt but that Taranaki will take all the power as quickly as it can be generated. It is waiting for it—indeed hungering for it —now; industries want it; a powerful firm at Home are anxious to secure an adequate supply in order to establish important smelting works at New Plymouth. Cheap hydro-electric-ity attracts industries as nothing else can, as witness Christchurch’s experience. No one can guage the future demands. As for the Government supplying extra power, it seems to us we had better rely upon our own resources, if we can, and not upon the Government’s. If we can develop the extra 3000 h.p., it might on the other hand be of material assistance, in cases of emergency—such as the breakdown of the transmission lines—to the Government scheme when linked up. Moreover, it is the town’s duty, as the custodians of the most promising hydro-electrical ' resources in Taranaki, to make every possible provision for the future and do its best to exploit them with the means at its disposal for the benefit of the province. Maybe it will be too costly to attempt to generate the suggested additional power, as the Mayor apprehends, but first of all let the engineers test the ground and bring down a detailed report. For opposing this sensible course, the council, we regret to say it, has failed in its duty. Ratepayers should remember this fact that, despite what may be said to the contrary, the consulting engineers hold that once the No. 2 tunnel is constructed and in use it will not be possible in later years to enlarge the scheme, if it is found necessary, but that a new one entirely, supplementary to it, will need to be undertaken at enormous cost. This can be saved now by spending a few thousand pounds. It is truly a penny wise and pound foolish policy on the part of the council to oppose the suggestions made by the engineers and the town manager, and one, we feel sure, that will not be endorsed by ratepayers.