OUR WATER-POWER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3272, 18 July 1911, Page 2

OUR WATER-POWER.

GOVERNMENT EXPERT ARRIVES.

A HOPEFUL VIEW.

“I have got—you can call it a theory if you like—but I have got a theory that New Zealand should not •only compete with steam and oil power but that she should compete Avith water-power in any part of the world. I have got an ambition to make this supply the cheapest in the world.*”

This sentence is taken from some of the hopeful expressions made by Mr Parry (the electrical expert whom the Government specially engaged inEngland to inaugurate its hydro-electrical scheme under the Act passed last session) to a “Post" reporter recently on hoard the Corinthic.

Mr Parry is a comparatively young man, and it was plain that he is an enthusiast avlio is in love Avith his profession. He has had experience in some of the great hydro-electrical schemes in England, and lie looks eagerly towards the imitation of the Avater scenic under Government auspices in this country. In a brief talk with our representative he made it clear that stable climatic conditions, if one may put it that way, are an essential to success. “I have known," he 6aid, "of many hydroelectrical schemes that have gone Avrong for the need of storage. I have knoAvn of cases Avhere you could get half a million horse poAver for nine months of the year and only 50,000 for the other three. That‘is all you can reckon on to sell. The important feature is storage. Ido not knoAV of any hydroelectric scheme that has not got into difficulties for this reason.

“What happens is this: You may have a record over twelve years, and tAventy-five years, and then a drought comes." , " , . And then in his own words — there you are!" It Avas pointed out to Mr Parry that the rainfall in this country is remarkably even. “As far as I can learn,” he added, “in New Zealand you are remarkably well placed in this respect. But the great thing is to •be able to supply cheaply." , „ It Avas here that he uttered the sentence which is printed at the head of thivS interview. H© went on to explain i his hopes and his aspirations that the advent of water poAver here would give a great fillip to industrial development, and he outlined what had been down in Canada, Mexico, Nopvay, Switzerland, and France by the aid of Avater power. SAvitzerland and Norway, he said, most nearly approached New Zealand conditions, and Avhat they had accomplished should not be beyond our powers here. “I think,” he went on, “that the aim should be to encourage the natural industries of the country." The aid to agriculture noAvadays, he explained, \vas enormous in. the case of irrigation by means of a hydro-electric scheme. In some parts of Mexico enormous sums had been spent in this Avay. During the progress of the Bill (providing for the initiation of a great water poAver scheme in this country) through Parliament a good, deal was heard of transmission difficxilties and the dead weight that a transmission scheme of, sav, 100 miles would be. The fact was mentioned to Mr Parry “You need not talk of transmission., he paid, Speaking in a commercial sense, “until you are up to 400 or 500 miles. -Then you begin.to think serionsly." Over 100 miles the waste might be as high as 5 per oent., but nothing more. ■*:". As to the cost of electric power he stated that in two great steam schemes in Yorkshire and Lancashire, with which he was connected, the average revenue was five-eighths of a penny pei In New Zealand 3d per unit is about the basis on which discussion chiefly hinges.