MANGAHAO POWER SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 185, 1 May 1920, Page 7

MANGAHAO POWER SCHEME

■■■REPORT- ON VISIT TOVWORKS., ;;; Mr J. Nash, M.P., Mr. E..-K; Crabbo, afid'Colonel Mitchell, M.P.,' visited Mangiihao recently. They visited ■all'-the camps, .men's, quarters, sawmill, and road works in progress.. Colonel Mitchell-, in. the-course .of a report oil the visit, says: ''It is'needless for'me to say that-wii . were all ■ disappointed, and do not cpn- r eider the provision made for the con-. Venience . au(l .'comfort of tlio men at all creditable to those concerned, and; it is not calculated to keep good men on the. 'work nor to regain the peoples l<uth in the ability oi the Department to push !• long with, these urgent public woi'KS. The now in charge on the spot ore keen and efficient men, and, I be-' licve, would expeditiously carry oiit tne .work if given.a free hand and ed -to push on. .' , ... "But the fault is not there. Somewncro behind' t!ie : scene* midst the Department's huge organisation, there seems to. p-evail that all-predominating influence, of red-tape and lethargy, producing .u. state of partial paralysis, which.-,per-meates- to -the very details of the. woiv. undertaken, I'his'influence must be dis-licarteuiiig-to the energetic officers of the. Public Works Department _as it is tp : the •public, now; growing impatient, oi "Ten'.yeiirs ago the Aid to .Water Power Act was passed, and it .is noV Ift months since work was begun, but tWr void is not yet. completed, ami not a pick put into the actual, dam and tunnel works, nor is, there yet-.reasonable, accommodation for the worke'.s., "Unless these delaying influences are re-, moved, and, more, driving forco infused •into'the public works, tew ot 'us w.l live to-see the 'light from Mangalmo. In. view of the great and growing importance of hydro-electric development generailv tlie.annual loss in wealth to tlia country Mi 'year of delay and also realising that huge, national tasks ot isi ■than .hydro-electric works now before the Public Works Department, which, will, lie greater in the. future than evil' in'the past,-I surest the desirability oi he Central Progress League urging thatul.e llydm-Electric . Department be entirely free from the Public Wo:l;s. AVe may then have one Department concentrat- • in l7 its energies on this great asset.. We suggest that a/deputation consisting of all tlif members of Parliament concerned, together with members Ironi the Tower L'engue and _ the Progress. League wait upon-the Minister of lublic Works at the earliest possible date. To . this eud I am in communication With tlie Minister, and it is .hoped'the deputation will take place immediate!.) on his return to Wellington.