Apia’s Expensive
p. 73 · Read in the full issue
Result Of Too
Much, Too Soon
Apia’s Expensive Electricity Blackout
From a Special Correspondent THE years of criticism of the Public Works Department for so long ignored or excused by the Administration were fully justified, when on June 2 almost the whole of Apia, Western Samoa, lost its supply of electric power.
A breakdown of such seriousness occurred that, according to official estimate, at least six weeks would be needed before supplies returned to normal and for a week most of Apia was completely without power.
Nearly all of the 50 Government houses for seconded officers are all electric, and hundreds of homes around Apia depend on electricity for lighting and various appliances.
The Tofua arrived with freezer ?oods two days before the break down occurred and one store alone lost over £lOO worth of foodstuffs n their useless refrigerators. An iccurate assessment of losses is im- Dossible but it must be over £l,OOO.
Although the public has long leased to wonder at the inefficiency )f the PWD, this gives little satis 'action to irate citizens as they itumble in the darkness, make do vith a new primus, wear clothes hey cannot iron, eat rancid butter, Irink warm beer and read their ising income tax demands in the ading light.
Another responsibility of the PWD, he water supply, is in a disgraceful tate. After every rainstorm in the :atchment areas, the water comes »ut of the tap brown and full of >ieces of twigs and leaves, dirt and •ven small fish. People living on econd floors in Apia buildings have l very weak supply and at times :et no water at all. In spite of this, eticulation is being steadily ex ended.
Roads throughout the island are apidly deteriorating and although fc is evident that PWD cannot keep •ace with repairs, new roads are ieing built.
FNSTEAD of consolidating what is L already there the policy seems to be one of expansion at all osts. The power failure emphasises he already obvious fact that ex ension has been spread too far and do thinly.
In January of this year, Mr. W. B. hng, AMIEE, a registered Civil and llectrical Engineer from New Zea md, presented a report on the .pia Electric Power Supply at the Bquest of the Government.
Among other things he stated: “It is very evident that, although be Government of Samoa has btained skilled electrical advice very few years on the next step
to take in its construction pro gramme, very little has apparently been done in the way of ensuring that the programme has been carried out efficiently.
“It must be emphasised that no man can go to Samoa and by a wave of a wand remove all troubles and weaknesses, when things have been allowed to drift along as best they can. ... As it is now, the elec tric supply system is in such a mess that it will take some years of de voted service by any Engineer who may be appointed, to clean it up...
One of the worst features is the fact that the Public Works Dept, is apparently the only installation con tractor, with no qualified wiremen; and is also the Inspecting Authority
with no Inspectors, and I doubt with anyone capable of acting as such.”
He suggested engaging as soon as possible an Electrical Engineer, an Electrical Foreman, an Inspector of Wiring, a Junior Electrical En gineer, and two Registered Wire men.
Now 6 months later only two of those positions have been advertised and as yet no appointment has been made.
Plans for future development are very necessary and commendable but the Administration should be aware by now that it cannot push ahead with grandiose schemes with out employing men with the neces sary know-how.