HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 904, 25 August 1910, Page 4

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

. —; « — CANTERBURY SCHEME T.HE FIRST. PROBABLE COST £150,000. , Tho desirableness of expediting the establishment of the Government scheuio regarding the utilisation of water power for the development of electrical energy was urged upon' the Hon. R. , Sl'Kenzio by a Christchurch deputation on Tuesday. Mr. Allison (Mayor of Christcliurcli) 6aid that it.was desired that tho Lake Coleridgt) scheme should be undertaken without delay, ■ so that Christchurch might get. an adequate supply of -hydroelectric power. Unless this were done there was th'o "danger that Chiistchurch as a manufacturing centre would ceasu to exist. Already threo manufacturing firms had gone from Christchurch to Wellington. At the present moment Dunedin had cheap electric power against which it was impossible for Christchurch manufacturers to competo. . , Mr. T. E. Taylor suggested that the Government should * sell tho current to the corporation at Use boundary of the citv in bulk. • The Hon. R. M'Kenzio said if thtf House would vote him the money he would be at the scheme within, six months. (Hear, hear.) His idea was to spend anywhere between .£IOO,OOO and .£150,000 on the Lake Coleridge scheme. Ho was, of course, ouly giving his personal opinion. If Parliament voted the money , they could get a start at it in a couple of months' after the' House rose., (Hear, hear.) The reserve power could bit used in the manufacture of nitrates. No doubt the Government ivould also have to. start a -scheme in the North Island. As to distribution .the Government would be willing to, come to a reasonable understanding that every'local body should get what power it required... Tho Government did. not want..to, make any great profit out of .them.' Tie'question arose as to whether the whole scheme should be treated as tho railway system or divided into different localities, the Government selling the power to local bodies in bulk and letting-them distribute it' as they thought proper; As Christchuroh had afrcaily spent .£70.000 in connection with electrical energy the Government would either agree to supply them with power or vake over the works they had already constructed. He thought eleotricai power should he mado.a complete monopoly for the people of tho country. . Mr. Hardy said he presumed there would be no interference with settlors who were already using their waterraces to generate electricity. Sir. M'Kenzie said the Government would not interfere in such eases. His point of view was that they should start with the South Islaud scheme.