WATER POWER

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 208, 28 May 1920, Page 8

WATER POWER

i THE MANGAHAO SCHEME ! WELLINGTON'S SHARE I • :;. - DEFINED,, ; PPRESENTATIONS TO THE MINISTER

• An appeal for the speedy completion of tho Mangahao hydro-electric installation and a request for information rc-"gnrding'the-allocation of the power were placed before tho Minister of Public Works (Hon. J. G. Contest yesterday by a strong deputation. Tho delegates included Mr. J. P. Luke, M.P. (Wellington City.-Council), Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P.,\ I>r. A. K. Newman, M.P., . Mr. W. H. Field, M.P., Mr. G. E. Sykes, . M.P. Tho Central Progress League was represented by' Mr. C. M. Luke, Mr. G. /Mitchell, M.P., and Mr. W. Stuart Wilson, the Wellington Chamber of .Commerce by Mr. M. Carr, and the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce by Mr. A. Leigh Hunt. Other delegates g resent wore Messrs. S. Deans (Gisborne orough Council), G. Witters (Cook .County Council), W. H. Bcoth (Carterton County Council), F. G. Cooper (Hurt County Council), J. Whitlock (Napier Progress and Railway League). P.. Skoglund (Tarannki Hydro-Electric League), J. O'Neill (Hawke's Bay Farmers' Union), A. G. Nolan (Wairoa Farmers' Uniontf, J. G. Jessop (Wairoa Farmers' Freezing Co.), W. G. Warren (To"moana Freezing Works). F. A. Candy (Hawke's Bay Freezing Works), H. Gascoyne (Hawke's Bay Sheepowners' Association), Colin White (North British Freezing Co.), and P. M. Chadwick (Hawke's Bay Farmers' Freezing Co.). The Publio Works Department was represented by Messrs. R. W. Holmes (chief engineer), L. Birks (chief electrical engineer), and F. W. Furkert (assistant-engineer), Mr. J. P. Luke introduced the deputation and stated that the Wellington City Council was particularly anxious to ascertain exactly what nroportion of the current from Mangahao would como to the city. This ' information was ' necessary in order that the arrangements .might bo made for supplementary power. He felt sure there, was no ground for the Teport that vcTy little of the power would be available for the city, which would be content to be served on a "population basis. Mr. Luke urged that tho Department should concentrate on the completion of the Mangahao scheme. If: there was anv surplus labour in the future, a start should be made with tho Waifcareraoana : scheme.

Mr. C. M. Luke, clfairman of the.Progress League, said that the development of industry .under present conditions was of essential 1 importance. Increased production was needed, and the league felt that hydro-electric power was a .prime factor in securing that increase. The league was voicing the wishes of tho people generally in asking for the speeding up of .the Mangahao undertaking. It realised the difficulties that faced tho Department. The labour shortage was serious, and apparently the prosecution of .extensive public works would be impossible ' without a vigorous immigration policy. The Government was fostering sucli a policy. Mr. Luke* suggested that tho, raising of wages and two improvement of working conditions in the older lands was making possible a (treat extension of manufacturing industry in New Zealand. A "Live" Minister.

Mr. W. H. Field, M.P., said the country was satisfied that it had now a really live Minister of Poblic Works. Mr. Coates: I think we have always '. ■.■ had one. , , . _ ~ Mr. Meld said members of Parliament who had visited the works during- : the week were completely satisfied with the progress that was being made. If ■the engineers in chargo of the work were ■ given, money, labour, and materials they would complete the work within the per- ;■ iod proposed,- which -too understood was i three years. In the meantime the Gov- ! eminent should not neglect the Wai- !'■ karemoana scheme. Mr. Field _ asserted. I-'- the' claims 1 of the country districts to .--. r fair-shafe-of power. He was not-.con- ■ vinced that tho population basis was the ! -right basis. Some country districts •■ would want more power per head than the city would want. . ■ Mr S Dean, representing the For- ■:. 'erty "Bay, district, said Gisborne wanted ;'. .the' Government to go ahead with tn& WaikaTemonha 6cheme. _ '. Mr F G. Cooper, chairman of the 1 Hutt County Council, emphasised the points'made by the other speakers. ; Mr. G. Mitchell, M.P., stressed the ; ■ dmrortan'ce of hydro-electrio development and said that the bodies represented by the deputation wanted to see the complei tion of the full scheme.planned by Mr. Parry.. Thero was enough water-power, in New Zealand to run all the mdus- ' tries, and if all the power now devek'-i- ---; ed by means of coal and oil wore de- ! veloped in the form of hydro-electricity, the Dominion would save ,£3,000,000 a • year. He suggested that an immediate ; -start-should be made with tho Waikars- ! inoana scheme. Maori Vibour could bb /■ secured for-road work. By the timb '' »the-Maoris.'..were wanted for the sheai^ '''■ ' ing and so forth, immigrant labour ' ' would. be available for Waikaremoana.- | "-.""Mp.V'Wj"-Stuart Wilson asked if the I 'Minister.7w-as in favour of establishing . a board of business men to undertake [ the development of hydro-electrio power. i \ ' "The-Minister said that was a policy ; '■ matter..'which would have to go belorb '•'■. " - ' ■ ■ Mr. Colin White seated that the freez- ! in* companies needed vhe hydro-electric f. pewer. -Canterbury 'jompanies had en- : joyed" a"'great advantage in this reI Another delegate asked if Woodville I'' could-have the advico of'a Public Works ergineer in connection with a local ! -scheme. i ■ Mr. P. Skoglund said that Taranoki /( wanted the speedy completion of the '{: Arapuni scheme. The Government ; should push ahead with the whole North ,' Island scheme. \. ministehleply "THE. COMPLETE SCHEME. ■ The Minister of Public Works, in re- ;. ply, said that he had undertaken new duties, and would be satisfied to ho .- judged by results. He realised that the Government must 'be dependent upon its engineers in dealing with ouch matters as hydro-electric power. Mr. 1,. .Birks was now head of tho hydro-electrio branch of the Public Works Department, and.he was building up tho staff to the i .'required strength. This was not a simple \ matter, but if the Department put life ' and vim into tho works in hand, and got the engineers interested, salaries .would uot be the prime consideration. Jt had been necessary during the war to allow engineers to undertake military duties, and he was prepared to admit that during tho wnr a certain amount of stagnation -had taken place. "My job and the job of tho Government must : be to get the wheels- of energy and in- '. dustry moving again," said Mr. Coates. "That is not an easy matter, us you know, but the task is quite n possible one. I havo no doubt that we diall get progress. I have overv confidence ih my engineers, and I feel sure that when }" they know what tho Government wants •;/ snd after we get to understand ono an. !.' other thoroughly, they will work to- ', gothor and get Iho job done." • The Minister agreed that, hydro-electrio power was essential to the development of Now Zealand industries. The policy of tho Government was to develop the power, but there were many difficulties in tho way. Ho believed that tho difficulty regarding laliour would disappear .soca, Th* position was ltni;H)vliig, and the Department in the meantime would try to get materials together, and bo prepared to get along with tho job in the right way. He did not believe in ;' trying merely to rnnks a show. The i ■ engineers in charg* of power develop--4 ment must havo proper equipment for the work. n« himself hkd a duty to assist in guarding the people's money. •' The necessary purchases of machinery, involving verr n»avy expenditure, must i ' ' 'be made in the beat markets after full, : ' information had been secured. The Goy•erjyncnfc.ohsd comnii tte<L itself .definitely, .tovdindii)B;:>tlio money;-;f or, r«tho ; powar' r fecheffles,'and ho felt fthrit ho-had a freo hand to go ahead with the work. ;■ '.■,.'■, Wellington's Power. i ; : •' The Mangahao installation would not i provide all tho power that tte Welling-