MANGAHAO SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 234, 21 June 1918, Page 7

MANGAHAO SCHEME

A LEAGUE TO PUSH If &IG MEETING AT PALMERSTON NORTH GOVERNMENT TO BE APPROACHED (Special Renorter.) Palmerston North, June 20. A hundred or so delegates from bodies 5n this end of (ho island met at Palmersion North to-day lo consider the proposition to form a league to agitate, for the immediate undertaking of Mho Mangahao hydro-electric scheme. Mr. ]~ H. Collinfcon, of Palnierston North, presided. A Vigilance Committee of the Associated Chambere of Commerce presented the (following report:—

"In reporting to (lie chambers on the present position of the proposed Mangahao scheme- for hydro-elect ric power, your committee' desires to .state that, as inislrncled by the conference at Alangnhao, theyhavo interviewed tho Minister for I'ubiic Works re tho possibility of starting preliminary loading, etc. Whilo receiving the deputation very cordially, tho Jlinister absolutely refused to entertain tiny idea of doing any work connected •with the scheme till at earliest after the Var was ended. Ho slated he needed no Arguments lo convinco him as to the need for hydro-electric power, -".or as to the economic possibilities of it, being quite satisfied with the result of tho Lake Coleridge scheme. He also admitted (ho .Urgent and clamant needs of the district, especially Wellington, arid staled no effort would be wanting en his part to onBiiro a speedy completion of the scheme, onco the war wns decided and things had bo far returned to normal ;,s to allow the jnoney and labour lo lid available. He was very definite- in bis refusal to consider any immediate expenditure, (dating tho difficulty of finding suitablo labour r.as too great. A'suggestion that money could bs provided, by the local . bodies interested, if work could be commenced, led fo a decided refusal, tho Minister stating (ho money question was not so important as tho labour question. In reply to ii.quiry, he stated the scheme Son Id bo completed in three year* Ho further slated that he was not nrepared to make a, final pronouncunenl on tho fchemo adopted by tilic Government, but thai, he would bo in a, position to stalo definitely tho Government's intentions during next se&sion, "From tho abwo it will -bo seen that, so far as the Government is concerned, ■their .distinct policy is to do nothing .till after tho war, but that immediately on the conclusion of the war they are rnxious to tako (ho matter vigorously in hand.

"The only other alternative is to -rigorously press for the right of the local body or bodies interested to their own works, subject tp the'careful guarding of all public rights. This is tho courso proposed by the Bill circulated by tho Southland League, and partially endorsed by Mr. Kussell in Auckland. 'To us such a course does not appear wise, for the following reasons: Tho larger tho power generated at each source tho cheaper,' as a rule, tho current can lie supplied, and the better provision can be made- for extension from time to time. To leave each.body free to cany out its own local schemes is to lead to the unnecessary multiplication of small power stations, independent of, and to a certain extent competitive with, each other. Such a result would nullify that cheapness of power which is the great economic gain of the 6ystem. Further, the controlling of the whole sources of electric power by the central Government simplifies and renders easily possible the linking up of power derived i'loni one source with another, thus re-' moving. tho possibility of an entiro stoppage of current through accident, which may happea at any one source. Such a linking up wonld be practically impossible with smaller schemes. From a local point of View the special (ircumslanccs and needs of this district have Iboc-n, and are, so'emphatically recognised by the Government as to render it certain that the supplying of hydro-electric power to satisfy those needs will be uidertaken'at the earliest possible mointnt. "There are, however, indications that Influence is at work to delay or prevent the development of the hydro-electric powers of the Dominion. ... In your committee's opinion such influences* require to. bo met wherever possible, and nt least care must bo taken that all members of Parliament representing the districts interested are given distinctly to understand the importance attached to the scheme by their constituents. "We would further urge that immediRte steps be taken to ensure evidence bejng given before the Industries Committee of the House as to the importance of the Dominion's manufacturing interests of the provision of cheap electric power. We think an arrangement FhouM be made at once to ensure sucn evidence being available, and an opportunity to tender it.

"A. further suggestion is to see if the 'Efficiency Board would not investigate the matter. The question is one of vital importance from the point of view of post-war efficiency, and so would seem to come well within the scope of the board's artivilies."-

3Er. B. H. Crabbe (PalmeKton North) moved that the Vigilance Committee's

report should l>e adopted by the meeting. Air. T. R. Hoddcr (Palnierston North) seconded the motion. Ho said Hint what they needed to do was bring pressure to bear on the Government -when Parliament met. There woro questions as to which schemo should ho gone on 'with first, but lie thought it proper that the Mangahao scheme should be given priority. Dr. A. K. Newman, JI7P. (Wellington) said there was no need even fo wait for the meeting of Parliament. He hud no belief in the "wait (ill after the war" cry. There was tunnelling and other work to bo done, and there were men to do it. Ho moved: That this meeting urgo (ho Government to place a vote on the Estimates for. the Mangahao scheme, and aclivelv carry on the preliminary work. Mr. C. Vj; Mackic (Mayor of AVunganui) seconded,Mr. James Nosh (Mayor of Palnierston North) said that one of the obstacles the Minister of Public Works raised was that of labour. However, the fact was that if adequate wages were paid the men would be got without difficulty. It had been- suggested (hat perhaps the pcoplo themselves should carry out the scheme, but it was his opinion that the Government should do the work. He ngrced with Dr. Newman that it w,as folly to leave all things till after (lie war. If wc bad to leave work (ill (lien »vc would get the scheme in about ten years' lime. Mr. Parry (the engineer) had said tTiat t'hero was power for evcrv. , one—farmers and all. If that was so I hey should all pull together and go to ] die Government and demand dial Ihe j work lie shrted forthwith. He | the following motion, which Dr. I'owman adopted in placo of (ho one he had moved: That in the opinion of this conference the Government should bo urged to proceed, with the Mangahao hydonloctric scheme at (lie head works in the preparation of the holding dam, tunnelling, and construction of roads, so that everything may be in readiness when peace, is declared, and the necessary machinery obtainable for carrying out (ho whole scheme, and this conference pledges if necessary, to assist (ho Government in obtaining labour required for the prework. Mr.jjJi P. Luke (Mayor of Wellington) said '.(ate question was almost a national one,. Ho thought (he Government should undertake the work, and did'npt lliink that the local authorities would make :i success of the undertaking. As to the labour, men were coming back in considerable numbers now from (ho war, and tho sooner wo got them on lo good, useful work, (lie bettor. An important point was that we woro exhausting tho coal supplies of tho country, and we were, not entitled to do that, because we were depriving the generations to como of this most essential commodity. That point ought to he brought homo lo'the Government. Another tiling was that the hydroelectric scheme would help us over some of our occasional labour difficulties. LTjlr. W. A. Veitch, M.P. (Wangn.nui), heartily supported the remarks of Dr. Newman. It would bo n> wasteful and foolish policy to wait till after the war. Mr; W. B. Mathoson (Ekotahuna) said that they should not go for the Mangahao scheme merely because it was a district scheme. They should help tho scheme which would be best for all. Mr. D, Buick, M.P. (Palnierston North), thought that the ■scheme should be proceeded with forthwith. It would be merely a subterfuge if tho Minister said tho money could not be got. Tho labour also was obtainable. The motion was carried. It was resolved: That a league bo formed, to be called the Mangahao Hydro-Elfotric Power League, comprising county , councils, borough councils, town boards, chambers of commerce, harbour boards, industrial associations, branches of the farmers' union, dairy companies, etc., interested in the installation of the hydro-electric power.