WATER POWER IN RIVERS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 423, 4 February 1909, Page 6

WATER POWER IN RIVERS.

POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT.'

NO DOG-IN'THE MANGER.

: >(BT TELEOBAPH— srKCIAI, COP.REiIrONDENT.I - v ■ i; . , : ' r ' Whangarel, February 3. ' ■■l t A- statement in regard to. the future- policy of; the ■ Government respecting , the - utilisatibriyof the., water power now running to waste in ' the rivors of.■ the/Dominiori' was made by the.Hon. J. A.)Millar to-night, in replying to a deputation which urged that the .Wairua Falls be Bet aside for'the purposes of local bodies..:. V. v ".' , . ..■'■-..,,

Mr. Millar, said that the Government did not desire to stand in the way, of the water power of the various streams , being/utilised to the best advantage,*-but' : ..it', did desire to prevent undue monopoly being acquired.- At the same time the Government did not desire to pursue, a* dog-in-the-manger policy. • The Government would not allow the water- to ruii to waste where it could be* utilised in cheapening the cost of running the industries of the An amendment would be made in the existing Act by,which the rights to'the power would be granted to vlocal bodies and, private..individuals, :subject to proper: safeguards. -Whea a .private., individual ; was these rights the maximum ; charge that he. would be allowed to makb would be fixed: so to enable him to obtain a reasonable interest on his. outlay, but at the- same time would not permit him , to become a millionaire, through the transaction. Local* bodies' would be' treated on somewhat different lines, but. subject also to reasonable safeguards! He'thought that the. proposed: amendment would enable' the Wairua' Falls to ,be' made use of as desired by the Wliangarei) Borough- Council. ,; : :. •:■.•'