POWER SHORTAGE?

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20736, 21 February 1939, Page 6

POWER SHORTAGE?

ARAPUNI POSITION WO WATER OVER BRILLWAV SURVEYS NEAR CAMBRIDGE With the Arapuni hydro-electric scheme taking the whole of the water supply of the Waikato River and stoppine the flow over the spillway there is a possibility of a shortage of electric pbwer in the North Island which is likely to become most embarrassing to the authorities, in the opinion of the secretary of the Electric Power Boards and Supply Authorities Association of New Zealand. Mr E. W. Swain, in a communication to power boards In the Dominion. Although the Public Works Department had assured Mr Swain that there was no cause for alarm, he was of the opinion that the position may become serious this winter and. if not. certainly in 1940. He suggested that a conference of power boards should be held to discuss the position. “No Need for Alarm” When the matter arose for discussion at the meeting of the Auckland Electric Power Board yesterday the general manager. Mr R. H. Bartley, said that while Mr Swain’s remarks were quite correct, he did not consider that there was any need for alarm. The Lake at Taupo was very high but the reason for the generators at present using practically the whole of the water of the river was that power was being exported from Arapuni to the south. He considered there w r as sufficient water at Arapuni for another unit.

It was mentioned that preliminary surveys were being conducted for another power plant near Cambridge. The surveys have now been practically completed. After surveying practically the entire river, the Public Works Department have elected the Crow’s Nest site about two miles up-stream from Cambridge as the most suitable for the construction of a new power station, as the rock there is ideal for foundations and for concrete constructional work.