ELECTRIC POWER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1671, 6 February 1917, Page 3

ELECTRIC POWER.

NORTH ISLAND PROJECTS. Speaking on the subject of the utilisation of water for the production of electricity in the North Island, the Minister for Public Works (Hon. W. Fraser) said that large expenditure is involved, and only initial work can be expected for the present. Survey's are being made, and within a reasonable period the schemes settled niton by the Government will be made known. But the carrying out of- the schemes cannot be a matter of immediate consummation. The large outlay invovled is the first difficulty, and if all I lie money were available that is required the apparatus necessary is not on hand. To a large extenl it: is manufactured in Geneva, and importations must be slow, though there is no reason why Britain should not be able to duplicate the machinery required. The Minister added that, with the counsel of his ('Xpert officers, he has. practically decided on three schemes of securing water-power — one for Wellington as far as Palmerston North, another for the Last Coast, and (lie third for the Auckland district. It would be possible to have oik 1 big scheme for the whole of the North island, but: the oojcclion is Hi at ;ii would involve the making of new roads in inaccessible country, ll is absolutely' essential that there should lx; roads alongside (he routes of electrical transmission, and (heir formation simply for hydro-electrical purposes is mil of 1 In; question. Linos for the best routes of transmission, are now being made so far as the Auckland district is concerned, and tho same may r be said regarding the Wellington district.