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Chronicle (Levin), 18 June 1947, Page 6

CHRISTCHURCH, June 17. Sabotage at the new Lake Pukaki power scheme which will delay construction work by-a week at least, was reported to the Minister of Works (Mr. Sempie) by the contractor (Mr. W. Williamson)^ when Mr. Sempie. -visited thejdluvtodhy. J ' Vv , My.» WilRamgjIn described - hp'w on Friday ni^lxt tfe/pipes jbading from a 100,000 ga^bju Nservoir ^er.e'opened to; • half 400^I^b 'tKe .big fcht. .-Which . will carry' concrete 'sbiiee pipe3-!i'%?|qjm 'the lake. Concrete work on the bed of the cut was covered by the flood to a depthof several inches. Steel reinforcing rods were displaced by the flood of water and other parts of the work were badly silted and will require re-excava-tion. Three pumps of big capacity have been working since Saturday mor-, ning to clear up the flood and had not (inished the job today. * The Minister said that lie had given orders for detectives to investigato. "It is evident that it is someone on the job who is the saboteur," said the Minister. "To flood- the work is a downright crinunal act especially at the present time when the job is vital to the South Island power supply and every hour gained is of importance. Whoever committed the act of sabotage niust have knovvn hovv to go about things because the three outlets could not have been turned on accidentally. This is the kind of thing that is going on all over the world today by persons who are more interested in destruction and disruption than they are in the welfare of tlieir country. They are the worst" type of human animals and should be exterminated. ' ' The Minister declaied that Mr. Williamson was even more terse. "Whoever did tliis," h(i said, "should be put up against a wai] and sliot. "