THE POWER SCHEMES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 236, 30 June 1920, Page 8

THE POWER SCHEMES

MANGAHAO AND WAIKAREMOANA BOTH WORKS TO PROCEED "Has the machinery been ordered for the Mangahao scheme?" asked Mr. G. Mitchell (Wellington South) in the House of Representatives yesterday. Tho machinery and the poles ought to be ordered, said the member, in order that there might bo no delay when the water had been brought to tho power station. It was desirable that the power boards should be set up, so that they might order their poles and prepare for the delivery of tho power. The Minister of Public Works replied that every precaution was being taken by his Department to ensure that no delay would take place in the utilisation of the power from Mangahao through lack of materials. That applied' to machinery, poles, and everything else, except cement and somo surface steel. Dr. A. lv. Newman (Wellington Easty asked if the Minister intended- to spend tho available funds of Mangahao, or was some part of the money to be diverted to Waikareraoana. He suggested that the starting of tlie Waikaremoatm scheme at present would delay tho completion of the Mangahao. scheme._ The concentration, of effort was desirable. Ho recognised that the Arapuni scheme, which was to serve Auckland, was 33' important as Mangahao. The Minister said that the shorten of coal and other conditions which made the Mangahao echeme important to Wellington applied equally _to the East Coast, where the completion of the Waikaremoana scheme was required. He did not think that the starting of the WftlkaremoaM works would delay tho Mangahao Bchemo at all. Every district was asking for tho speedy completion of its own scheme

Mr. G. Hunter (Waipawa) o.n<l the Hon. W. D. S., Mac Donald (Bay of Plenty) voiced tlie claiint* of thn Wmkaremoaia echeme. They thought that development should begin at the earliest possible moment. Mr. Mitchell (Wellington South) agreed that the .. Waikaremoana installation should proceed. Wellington, he said, did not take a parochial view of the matter. The full scheme, covering all the North Island, was needed. A WAR TRAWLER Last session the Government promised, in reply to a suggestion; made, that inquiries would be made of the British Government about tho acquisition (if a mine-sweeper, to be used as a trawler for fishing on our. coasts. Mr, Luke asked yesterday in the House whether this had been done. Sir William Herri.es

snid that negotiations were proceeding with the Imperial Government on the matter of obtaining one or two minesweepers. ' The puestion of whether these sweepers could be profitably converted for use as trawlers would be considered when it was known whether n sweeper could bo obtained. 1 MEMBERS' QUESTIONS Mr. J. P. Luke (Wellington North) has given notice to ask the Prime Minister: Whether the Government, recognising the great public and private need for money to meet the Dominion's obligations and to provido for the expansion of all enterprises so necessary fot the welfare of tho Dominion, will take immediate Bteps to prevent the sending abroad from tho Dominion of moneys for investment? Dr. A. li. Newman (Wellington Fust) k. tn ask tlv> TVinistcr of Justice: Whether he will make women Justices of the Peace? Mr. W. A. Veitch (Wanganu.)) is asking the Minister of Agriculture whether it is true that he intends to dispose of ,the Moumahaki State Farm, and why demonstrative work is not being carried 011 this'season to the same extent as during previous seasons? Mr. (t. Hunter (Waipawa) is asking the Prime Minister whether ho will this session introduce legislation either giving local bodies full power to .enforce the payment of rates by x Maoris or by providing for the payment of Native rates by the Government? / Tho member for Ohiuemuri (Mr. H. Poland) is asking tho-Government if it will take immediate steps to effectively control the motor-car traffic in the largei' towns and .cities of; the Dominion, "as at present no pedestrian is safe and men, women, and children are being daily klllfel oulte unnecessarily." The pedestrian, s'ays. Mr. Poland, does not appear to have any rights in the streets to iudge by the manner in which motor-car drivers warn him off and failing immediate compliance run him down. Mr. H. Atmore is asking the Prime Minister if -he will cause the Board of Trade to inquire into profiteering now rampant in connection with sales of land; And if he does not think the State is entitled to all undue profits thus made. . ! ,