THE LUNCHEON.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 August 1922, Page 7

THE LUNCHEON.

VISITORS PRAISE WORKS. POWER BOARD’S POLICY, « LOOKING TO NEW PLYMOUTH. As facts and figures and general and detailed descriptions of the various parts of the works fed the minds of the visitors with knowledge concerning not only the present scheme, 'but of future possibilities, so the chamber was not forgetful of the other portions of their being. The programme had made mention of lunch and the hour of its arrival, but the eagerness of the visitors for knowledge was sufficiently great to warrant a repeated call to come along. Shortly, after 1.30 p.m. different squads, who, under their guides and mentors had been eagerly imbibing “cusecs” and “foot pressure” and “fall,” were gathered in the works dining hall, where d lunch, substantial and inviting, had been set out. The guests fell to with avidity, afterwards expressing in tangible form their appreciation of the efforts of the caterer and his staff. Before re- [ suming the inspection a few toasts were drunk, that of the King being honored with enthusiasm. Mr. List read apologies from the chairman of the Stratford County Council (Mr. E. Walter), the Mayor of Stratford (Mr. J. W. McMillan), and Mr. J. R. Sutherland (Mayor of Inglewood). He then called on Mr. H. G. Carmen (chairman of the Taranaki Power Board) to propose the toast of the New Plymouth hydro-electric works. IMPRESSED WITH PROGRESS. Mr. Carmen said it was somewhere about eighteen months or two years since he had been over the works, and, while their inspection was not yet finished, he could see a big difference in the work, and he understood that, provided the necessary machinery came to* hand, the power would be ready very shortly. He thought the people ot New Plymouth were to be congratulated on the courage they had shown in prosecuting the scheme, when they considered the circumstances they had had to work under. They had understood that the cost was to be very considerably less than they now knew it was going to cost them. The costs had piled up and then doubled themselves. Circumstances over which they had no control had compelled the council to go to the ratepayers for authority for extra loans, and he repeated that the people of New Plymouth were to be congratulated on their courage iu supporting their scheme. (Applause).

There was no doubt that New Zealanders ■were seised with the fact that electricity was the coming power. They had the example of Canada and the United States of America, and now Tasmania, in showing what could be done with cheap electric power. There was no doubt that when all the schemes were completed and in thorough working order New Zealand would find the benefit of hydro-electric power. There was something different to steam power; the water was working 24 hours in the day, and 365, and sometimes 3G6, days in the year. It might go glow now and again, but it did not go on strike. THE TARATA SCHEME. As chairman of the Taranaki Power Board, he would just like to mention in brief the scheme of the board. He referred to the new scheme at Tarata. and said that from the engineer’s estimate it would appear possible to be able to develop fifteen to twenty thousand horse power. The works to be erected and reticulation would be costly, but if that power could be produced for anywhere near the figures in the engineer’s estimate, then Taranaki would be on the map as the source of one of the cheapest powers in New Zealand. (Applause). When that power was developed there was nothing to hipder it being linked up

with the New Plymouth system. Gne other point he wished to mention was that the Taranaki Power Board from the start had had in mind that they were to procure power from the New Plymouth scheme, and, apart from the report they had in their hands, they had no other scheme in mind. They wanted to obtain power from New Plymouth as much aa possible, and as early as possible, and then it would be time enough to look for other sources. The board had not departed from that policy. He had much pleasure in proposing the toast, coupled with the name of the Mayor. In responding, Mr. Wilson thanked Mr. Carmen for the way in which he had spoken of their undertaking, and congratulated him on the formation of the Central Power Board and on his election as chairman. They had had numerous inquiries from others down the line, and he knew the great interest of Mr. Carmen in the development of electricity. Their scheme had had its origin in very small dimensions, from a small water scheme at the top of the town to develop the town supply by gravitation, and the Waiwakaiho, a little further down the valley, was taken as the source. From this they had been able to develop power, and eventually to get light into the streets. When they had seen the wires along the streets, the business houses and the ratepayers had demanded to know why they should not light their houses. PGWER FOR OUTSIDE. The demand had increased until t%ey had had to force the water through the tunnel. The gravitation scheme had become the electric scheme, and was now of secondary importance. Having arrived at the stage when the water was being forced through the tunnel, the electrical engineer had told the council that they must look for increased power and he, Mr. Wilson believed, had outlined a scheme having the present one as its basis. They had obtained Mr. Blair Mason as their consulting engineer, ahd he and his partners were carrying it through. They had been held up for two years, but had got going again until they had come to the stage when they were held up for want of money. It would be idle to deny that the people of New Plymouth had undertaken the scheme for their own benefit. The present scheme was estimated to produce 3000 h.p., but they thought that New Plymouth would not want more than 1500. Everywhere they were receiving inquiries for power, and the surplus would be available for outside districts. That, he thought, was the most* important question to-day. He might say that up to the present they had not arrived at any contract except with the borough of Inglewood. They had been talked about regarding the charges, but Inglewood was quite satislied with the contract. The lines were I ready, and as soon as they could supply the “juice” they would turn on the power. The Central Power Board had a license over an area and could rate that area, which the borough could not do, and that was a difficulty for them, for if they took a customer outside the •borough they had to erect poles and wires, which was a very costly affair. COST OF POWER. Mr. Wilson continued: “The burning question among those requiring power to-day appears to be, when are we going to get the power, and how much is it going to cost us? Up to the present time the council had not been able to fix a firm price and conditions for supply to the individual user in connection with these extensions. But the matter is now receiving attention, and will be treated on broad-minded and business lines. For instance, it would not be good business to extend lines north, south, east and west witliout knowing fairly accurately what loacnng these lines would have to cope with in the immediate and near future, or what amount of revenue would be produced. It is common knowledge that every pound expended in generating, say, one horse power costs 25s to 30s to deliver to the consumer. It would, therefore, be seen that the reticulation of a district is a costly and important matter, and must be treated accordingly.

“As a comparison and in round figures a supply authority must receive from 20 to 25 per cent, of the capital cost of a supply line in revenue per year in order that this line shall pay its way. Supply lines of moderate capacity, as would be used in reticulating this district, would cost to erect on an average of £350 to £4OO a mile. To make this line pay the supply authority must receive in revenue per mile of line an amount of from £9O to £lOO.

“The average revenue obtainable from a farm requiring power for milking machine, domestic lighting and heating would be approximately £3O a year. It will therefore be seen that providing three consumers of this nature are obtained per mile that it is quite a feasible and business proposition to supply them 'with electric energy. It is on these lines that the reticulation of the district will have to be managed, or in other words the rates as charged in town will be practically the same as in the outer districts, with the exception that a definite consumption of electrical energy per year must be guaranteed. Briefly the rates charged in New Plymouth on a unit basis are: Lighting 6d nett; heating, cooking and power from to nett, according to the quantity used. These rates are as low as any supply authority in New Zealand, and compare more than favorably with other forms of lighting, heating and power. I mention this as there apparently exists a great deal of misunderstanding, due to figures being quoted dealing principally with the Government supply to the city of Christchurch. There is no doubt that this city made very excellent arrangements with the Government for the purchase of power, the original contract being that they paid the Government £8 3s 4d per kilowatt per year for the first 300 kilowatts and all over that at £5 per kilowatt, on maximum demand basis.

CHARGING ON BUTTER-FAT. “This means a good deal more than it sounds and the last portion ‘maximum demand’ really governs the whole situation. Under this contract Christchurch is paying the Government between £14,000 and £15,000 a year. I have given this instance merely to show that to make comparisons with the requirements of individual and isolated consumers with consumers like the city of Christchurch, is not only misleading but quite unpractical. I might add, as before stated, that- Christchurch made a very excellent bargain with, the then Government which the present Government cannot see its way to continue when the contract time expires. It must also be borne in mind that any consumer buying electric power in bulk must add to his bulk charges all the necessary costs, capital charges, working and reticulation expenses before a basis for retailing can be arrived at. “A very novel method of charging for power has recently been brought to my notice, in which the cost of power on the farm is quoted in terms of butterfat per annum. The schedule starts off by .quoting power in an annual charge of £2l a year for the first 7000 lb of butter-fat, with an additional charge of a third of a penny per I'b. This figure deals with quantities of butter-fat up to 30,000 lb a year and which the amount charged for power is £52 18s lid per .annum. To those of you who understand the terms quoted in butter-fat per annum you will be able to see that the figures before quoted compare favorably.” In conclusion. Mr. Wilson said he wanted the country members to understand that the borough of New Plymouth was not out to make a high profit. The more electric energy used in Taranaki the greater prosperity there would be for all of them. HOPES IN BIG SCHEME. Tn proposing the health of the visitors, Mr. List extended a hearty welcome to the visitors, whom they were all pleased to see. He was quite sure that they would get a better idea of the work and its size from a personal inspection than by any other means, and they had just heard from the Mayor the power they would ‘be able’ to get from New Plymouth and an indication that the terms would be reasonable. He was hoping they would be able to supply more power than the present partial scheme would provide so that later they could go ahead with and complete tlie main scheme. As a matter of fact the only

way to bring down the overhead costs was to go in for the big scheme. He commented on the magnitude of the undertaking, and quoted the amount of money spent and to be spent, observing that this one of the biggest hydroelectric works undertaken by a small municipality in New Zealand, if not in the world. They would be pleased to hear the remarks o£ the Mayor that New Plymouth was not endeavoring to exploit the rest of Taranaki. He knew something of the distrust of New Plymouth, on the part of the southern portion of the province, having years ago lived in South Taranaki, but he could assure thdm it was not justified in respect of thg, hydroelectric scheme or in any other work on which they were engaged. Taranaki men should “get together” more, and so know and understand one another better, and then they would work together for the advancement of their mutual interests. DEVELOPING THE PORT. The Taranaki Chamber of Commerce stood and was working for the province as a whole, not New Plymouth only. It desired the help of the other parts, feeling that to achieve success in matters of importance they must have uqity. He instanced what was being done in connection with the harbor and the development of direct shipping between the United Kingdom and New Plymouth. At one time there was a feeling in South Taranaki that expenditure on the construction of a deep sea harbor was so much waste. The answer to that to-day was effective. It Was shown by the -big boats continually coming in and taking any Taranaki produce and the inauguration of an import service, which, if it became established, as was probable? would result in thousands of pounds being saved to' Taranaki. The Chamber, as they doubtless knew, had arranged, for a passenger boat to leave New Plymouth for Australia next March. (Applause.) Later they expected a return visit by residents of Sydney. He hoped that would be the beginning of a regular passenger service between Taranaki and Australia. Details of the trip to Sydney would be published in good time, so that they could make the necessary arrangements. Anybody in Taranaki, lady as -well as gentleman, could join in.

The Chamber had also interested itself in the opening of the backbloeks by the metalling of the Tangarakau Gorge, and. the completion of the lower Awakino Road, works of considerable provincial as well as national importance. They all should help in getting these outlets made. The Chamber had taken an active interest in improving the train services. The provincial service was now quite satisfactory, but the mail service was still as it was when the railway line was first opened. This should not ‘be. They could not afford in these days to be, handicapped by such a slow 1 service, and he asked for the help of the I other Chambers to have the service I speeded up, particularly in cutting out I the small wayside stops. He was sure, that if they got busy and spoke with one united voice they could in the course of a few weeks have an hour and a half cut off the time. (Applause.) PULL TOGETHER. Another matter, continued Mr. List, in which they could profitably come together, was in arranging a programme ajid selecting delegates for the annual conference of Chambers of Commerce. The present manner of representation was against the interests of Taranaki. Major Belcher, the British Trade Commissioner, had been invited to Taranaki, and if he were able to come he hoped they as a whole would meet him and arrange for Taranaki’s interests to be properly and adequately represented at the great exhibition. Concluding, Mr. List made an appeal to all in Taranaki to sink their minor differences, if such existed, and to pull together for the good and advancement of Taranaki, which he described as the most fertile and most favored part of New Zealand, and possibly of the whole world. They should not think in terms of New Plymouth, Stratford or Hawera, but in terms of Taranaki, and if they did that he had no fear but that the best possible results would follow. (Applause.) Mr. Rjehards replied, stating that not only had they had an interesting and enjoyable time, but a very instructive., experience. It was not the flrot time f

he had enjoyed the hospitality of the chamber. He recalled the visit of the Waiwera, the first direct steamer to New Plymouth—“a red-letter day in the history of the province.” He hoped that the suggestion of Mr. List wbuld be carried out and they would find some way of association in the Chambers of Commerce in Taranaki with the. object of taking united action in matters that affected the district provincially. Regarding the hydro-electric works, he could believe their establishment would be ultimately of very great advantage to New Plymouth. He hoped it would mean the establishment of industries there. The growth of a big town would be felt throughout the whole of the province, for the farmers would, not find it necessary to send their produce abroad. A TARANAKI QUESTION. He believed that the question of electricity should be undertaken by Taranaki for Taranaki. At the same time he would like to point out that there had always been associated With the development of electricity the question of water power. He submitted that every source of power should be giv«a careful axamiaaUon. Qm eouroe

was the brown coal in Taranaki. .Government geologist had reported tha| there were hundreds of thousands <4 tons of it, but he (Mr. Richards) 3mm lieved that the water power was th® best, because they did not use their capital. It, however, came down to fli question of costs and he hoped thd Power Board would investigate the source he had mentioned. Regarding the train services, the Taranaki Chamber had dealt with the mail train, and he would like to point out that when the train arrives at Wellington and <Nte wanted to go to the South Island one must be a pretty good athlete to makq the connection.

In expressing the appreciation of the country members of jhe hospitality that had been extended them, Mr. Richards also paid a tribute to the work of Mr. List in the interests of Taranaki, ami in getting the direct boat between Syd* ney and New Plymouth. He tlxnigM? that if they were at the front door ofl a country next to a continent thagg should keep the door wide open. The toast of “The Host” (Mr. R. V. Rhodes) was then proposed and enthiiai* astically honored, after the chairman had thanked him for the excellent waj in which ha had catered thq