MANGAHAO POWER

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 207, 27 May 1920, Page 6

MANGAHAO POWER

DEPUTATION TO MINISTEE TO-DAY. A deputation of vhoso interested m the llangahao power scheme will interview tho Minister of Public Works (Hon. J. G. Coatcs) to-day and will ask that tho completion of the work shall be hastened and that the Public Works Department shall state without delay how tho power is going to be allocated when it is available. Tlw members of Parliament who visited Mangahao on Tuesday were impressed with the importance of this second point. The power is not going to bo sufficient for nil tho requirements of the AVellington district, but none of the local bodies can make plans for tho future until the allocation of tho Mangahao power is announced. The allocation is not dependent upon the date of completion of tho work. Tho impression conveyed by the statements of tho engineers on tho job to tho members of Parliament was that the installation couid lie completed in i'hrce years if that period wero adopted definitely by the Department and arrangements made accordingly. Dates would require to be set for tho commencement and completion of the various parts of the work. Gangs would have to be strengthened if they were found to be falling behind their schedule time. Unexpected difficulties, which are likely to arise in a big engineering enterprise, would have to be countered by special efforts. Tho visitors did Jiot learn that any plan of this kind is yet in existence, though the engineers are impressed with the desirability of speed. Some experienced men now employed at Mangahao are of opinion that at the present rate of progress tho work will not be completed much under five yeaTS. Labour is a vital factor, and it appears that tho strength of 'ho labour force in the past has been dependent on the number of men applying for work, not upon the requirements of tho job; that is to say, no special effort has been mado to attract men to Mangahno. Important improvements ;n this respect are now being affected, but the minimum number of men employed is not fixed.