HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 287, 30 August 1919, Page 8

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

..THE FIRST PROBLEM LACK OF LABOUR DETERMINATION CAN DO MUCH The importance of tlie speedy development of the water power resources of the -Dominion, is especially stressed in the report of tho Industries .Committee'which was presented to the House of Representatives yesterday.' On this subject tho committee reports as follows:— "Of the many subjects that have come before your committee that of the ui-. velopment of hydro-electric power must certainly be given tho foremost place. The provision of 'adequate supplies o s ■energy- is the basis of all industrial pro'gress; .and if this country is in tup nea.l future to, experience a period of great industrial expansion, then uo more .pressing duty devolves upon the. State thai! the development of our magnificent resources of water power. • "Wherever the committee lias been, whether in town or country, nothing, lias been more striking than the empnatic upanimity oi the .demand for electrical energy, and your, committee was much - impressed with the results that have iol-. lowed the introduction into G'hristchurch of this power from Lake Coleridge. JSv.: donco was given in that city tiiat even modern ■ suotion-gas plants had been .dis-. carded in favour of the electrical supply,. Not only had existing industries been fostered ami stimulated, but a number of new industries had already, bet.started, while the establishment of further new-undertakings was promised as soon as additional power coiild be oh- j ta-ined. It will be admitted that conditions of-life and labour in the rural districts should be made easier and more attraot-ive, and one of the surest \yays to accomplish this end is to make electricity 'tricity ..the ever-willing and reliable' ser vant of tho settler and farmer. "The committee is firnny of opinion that the harnessing of the great sources of water-power is a national duty, to be,' undertaken by the Government for the | benefit of the whole community and cur-1 ried out as a national enterprise. local ! authorities are proposing to develop i schemes of their own, doubtless due to tho length of time they have beten led .to believe will elapse before power from -the national undertaking will be available in their respective districts. I -x Mr. Parry's Scheme. "On the subject of the national scheme the committee has had the benefit of the evidence of Mr. Evan Parry, the late Government Electrical Engineer,, who outlined his scheme for the North Island and anticipated completing his investigations ao as to enable him to formulate his South Island scheme before leaving New Zealand, and 'this has no doubt, been done. Mr. Parry made it clear to the committee that the estimated period for the carrying out of- :the work could be greatly shortened, and that not only might various works in different portions of one island be undertaken at the same time, but the work in both islands could be simultaneously carried out.> .He declared that, given the money and the labour, he could within a period of three years inatal at each of the three main sources in the Nortli Island sufficient plant to meet present requirements. It will be adlnitted that the State is in a better position to find both the money and tho labour than are the' local authorities. i : Labour and Distribution. "Regarding the requisite laboar,' the committee is convinced that much may be accomplished by - earnestness and determination. A good deal of skilled labour is required in the shape of tunnelworkers, and it may be pointed out that many of those who did mining work at the front may bo contemplating emigration from Britain to the overseas dominions. No "time should be lost in bringing under the notice of mining and other workers the advantages that this Dominion affords. The Committee's Recommendation. "The c'ominittce recommends Government should at once carry out a .comprehensive scheme for the supply of electrical energy to the whole country, and' simultaneously in both islands. Tho Government should supply the current in bulk, leaving the distribution to'the local authorities."