KUMARA WATER RACES

Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1921, Page 2

KUMARA WATER RACES

SCKCIAI, TO GUARDIAN. t WELLINGTON, Dec 2. Mr Seddon (Westland) to-day brought up the question of Kuniara water races, which he said it was rum.„red were to be abandoned by the Gocomment. ’l'he town was, he said, dependant upon the water m case of hie iiiul also for ordinary use. He suggested that the Government might make ' arrangements with local bodies to take over the races. There was n possibility ,of developing hydro-electric power up to 1(H)" kwts. for Greyinouth. 1 The Minister of Mines said lie would he quite willing to go dow* there after ■ t i lo scss ion and see what arrangements could lx» made in regard to developing I power or making the races pay. If they did not pay, there would have to ! j,o.' The loss during the last six years

1 was £0 294, while the gold won was vali ued at C 48,798 and the number of men i employed only 36. It was quite impossihle for Government to go on finding i water at a Tinge losis like that. The alternative was to charge a price for water that would pay the expenses. The Government did not want to make anv profit. An increase in the charges from 2pl to 5d and 8d in the case of sawmillers would enable the races to ■ pay expenses. If thess rntes gave more than tho expenditure they would he lowered accordingly.