WATER POWER

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2995, 5 February 1917, Page 6

WATER POWER

WELLINGTON'S NEED j REMARKS BY MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS "The supply of electricity, generated by water power, to the City of Wellington, is a matter that is receiving the attention of the Public Works Department," said the Hon. W. Fraser to a DoaiiNVON reporter on Saturday. "Searching inquiries have been made, and are being made, concerning the possible sources of supply, and when information of a definite character is placed before me 1 will see that it is made public, for the information of the citizens generally. But it should be clearly understood that the Government cannot proceed with big hydraulic installations during the war period. We could not raise tho money, and we could .not buy the necessary plant and equipment." "At the present time," added the Minister of Public Works, "I am unable to secure plant that is required for the full development of the Lake Coleridge scheme, and ive have been obliged to refuse power from that source to people who have applied for it. Manufacturers of electrical plant and equipment simply cannot fill orders owing to the pressure of war work, and prices in many lines have risen to an abnormally high level. I understand fully that Wellington's needs are pressing, the existing power station having reached the limit of its capacity without being able to overtake the demand for electrical current. But Auckland also requires power, and it is simply out of the , question for the Government to undertake- two installations, costing £300,000 or £400,000 each, during the war period."

When the final reports come to hand, added the Minister, a careful examination of the whole situation would be made. A scheme would be selected for Wellington, and it might be found possible then to proceed with some of the preliminary, work, for the conservation and control'of-" the water. Time could bo saved by preparing for tho day when it would be possible to finance a big installation and import the requisite plant and equipment.