HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 238, 2 July 1919, Page 2

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

THE MANGAHAO SCHEME

ANNUAL MEETING OF LEAGUE \

Tlia Mangahao Hydro-Electric League held its annual meeting at tho Farmers' Institute yesterday afternoon, after tlio adjournment of the conference of local bodies and chambers of commerce. Mr.' 10. 11. Crabb (president) occupied tho chair. The delegates attending the confcrcnco were invited to bo present at tho meeting.

' Tho committee presented the following report:— "In laying liefore you the league's report on tile proceedings, of the last'twelve months, your committee feelp it can congratulate itself and, the league generally on the progress made towards attaining its objects; viz,., the pushing forward to eitrly completion the mpply of electric power from the 'M'angahao at Shannon. ' "When the league was formed, tho project was still to a great extent in embryo form, and nothing more than preliminary surveys, etc., had .been done. During the past year tho project lias been endorsed by tho Government, and. after considerable urging, a start has been made on the construction works. Much .valuable ' time has been lost in starting the preliminary ronding. and it will be necessary -*o use every meant to see the works nre pushed ahead as fast m possible. Tour committeo is glad to note that fair progress is now being made, between -thirty and forty men being employed on the formation of the now road to. the nnper dam, contracts for the whole of which have been surveyed. The work is also being taken in hand of improving the present. road by removing corners, etc.,. 60 as to allow of heavy machinery being tnken on to tho pi to of dams, etc. It is certain, bowever, that a much larger labour force must be employed if the work is to ix. completed in anything anPTOxinmtmgto the period allowed by 3tr. Parry, viz., three years, and your committee .recommends members of the leasuo to bring nil 'possible pressure to bear upon the Government through . the local members of Parliament and in every other way nossihle to see that the work is further expedited. With a view to assisting,, vonr enramittee is trving to arrange for monthly reports on the progress of the work;

"Thero is n further development whjch vour committee desires to draw Attention to and tlmt is the need of preparation for using tho power when available. We understand tho Gove rnmnn t do not desire to do tiny local reticulation, preferring that this be left to local bodies. Tt ■will be necessary, therefore, for each local bod.v to ascertain bv actual applications Hie number of ieside"ts nrepared to use the inwr -when available,- ■ and with tbaf" information for them'to arrange their retaliation schemes accoi'dinjjly. This will nunly more especially to" rural districts, but'boroughs not at present reticulated for plrvtric nowpr and light will be well advised also not to, leave this mutter in abevanee. 'I'l.n amount of material required, es-' pecinllv poles, will tw pnonneus, ard it would bp as well to bc'well advanced, so as to ensure no delay in utilising the power. In this connection it may I>e advantageous lo contiguous, local bodies to act together and their attention is therefore called to peotion 3.0f the Eleotric Power Hoards Act of lest session, .which provides an easy method of so combining. . "Wo (rust (hat the league's efforts may finallv end in the whole district sharing. at an early date! in the, progress which will undoubtedly follow tho completion of tho work and the provision of tho cheap power so urgently needed." In moving the adoption of the report, tho president urged members, of the league to see that the North Island was not left behind when hydro-electric power was turned on in Otjigo and Southland. ' Mr. J.: A. Nasli, M.P., seconded tho motion. 110 felt that good work had been done. Ho believed that the Minister of Public Works was. anxious to push on ivitli the establishment of hydroelectric power schemes throughout tho Dominion. ■ Just at the present time, though, nothing great could be hoped for, as no great body of men could be eninloypd upon the North Island works until the roads had been completed. Be wished to see. the league remain in existence. Hr. C. E. M'Kav also trusted that the league would continue its activities. He hoped that the Mangahao scheme would be pursued with a singleness of purpose that would prevent any distraction from creeping-in. 'He wished to see the one thing finished first. Supplementary schemes might bo advocated later. Tho report was adopted. Mr. Crabb was re-elected president, and a vigilance committee was appointed.