MANGAHAO HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER LEAGUE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2120, 27 April 1920, Page 4

MANGAHAO HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER LEAGUE.

EXECUTIVE’S REPORT. Palmerston N., Apv'ii 22. With reference to the Mangahao Hydro-Electric Power scheme, your Executive delayed their usual report pending an inspection by the President. This has now been made, and the accompanying report is largely based on conclusions formed on his visit to the works. lie was accompanied by Mr Nash, M.P., and Colonel Mitchell, ,M'.P. Mr Field, M.P., had intended to accompany the parly, but was unable to be present.

Labour. —About GO men are at present at work, but this number is continually rising and falling, a very large number only staying a tew days. We still think day labour should be increased to .10s, as the present rates arc below current rales ruling in the Dominion. Work Accomplished. —So far the chief work done has been reading. The original Tokouiaru road has been greatly improved and re-met-talled throughout. It is hoped to finish this before the winter sets in. From the end of the Tokonmru Road a road has been formed round the site of the Tokomaru Dam to the ridge overlooking the Mangahao, a distance of about 41 miles. About three miles of this is metalled. The. road from the ridge to the bottom of the Mangahai) Gorge is started, and a considerable amount of earthwork dime, but the rock work on this is not yet touched. No other work lias yet been done on the Mangabao site, and it will lake six weeks before the site for Uinnelpiercing machinery is ready at the Mangahao end. ll will be necessary also to complete the metalling of the road before any machinery can reach there. At the power house site, on the Shannon side of the mountain, a considerable amount of excavation, etc.,- lias been done in preparation for (‘redmn ol officers’ quarters, men's quarters, etc. A start has also been made to prepare a tram line, etc., at the Tokomaru end ol the Mangahao tunnel, to enable the spoil to be removed to a spot below the dam site. The sawmill is now working, and limber is lieing cut for men’s quarters, etc., but the breaking-down saw is not yet. in position. The engineer in charge not being present, the position re machinery could not be ascertained, but we presume some of this is on the way, as if was said to be ordered several months ago. Labour. —This is ihe key of the situation. Ho far as we can learn, men accustomed to the work are not now complaining as to the price offered. for contract work, and for men willing lo work good pay is available. But the great drawback is the accommodation, which is at present very insufficient. Nothing is available for men but the ordinary lent., with no fireplace and no provision for drying clothes, etc. As you arc aware, the weather ill the midst of the mountain is continually niis-ty, and often raining, and such conditions are not conducive to com tort. The only place the men have to meet on wet days is in the cook house, which it is scarcely possible to use for the purpose, it is intended,'we understand., to improve these conditions without delav, but as it is now

a yea I 1 shire Ihe work started, it is nol alolgethev creditable fo the Department tlml such iin unsatisfactory position Ims been allowed to remain so long. As it is, it will he scarcely possible to remedy things before winter is on, and we fully expect to hear of a further depletion of labour owing to dissatisfaction with the conditions. A word of praise should be given here to the Y.M.C.A., who have a live, energetic secretary on the spot, in tlie person of Air D. A. Horton. They have a large marquee erected at the Tokoiiiiiru Camp, and are doing their best to provide a little social life for the men. Mr .Morton would welcome gifts of literature, etc., and we strongly endorse his plea. Any gifts of money, etc., forwarded to Mr Morton, c/o Mangahao Works, Shannon, would be used by him for the benefit of the men in tilling up marquees, etc. While, however, giving all credit to the Y..M.C.A., your committee feel this ' matter should have been attended to earlier by the Department! Under present day conditions it is useless to expect to keep up a sufficient labour force unless Ihe conditions of life for the men mil side of Avovking hours are reasonably satisfactory, and wo have no hesitation at all in stating emphatically that at present Ilia! is not the case at Mangahao. This is particularly an fortunate, as at present 200 to 300 men could he easily and profitably employed. It seems to ns uoav advisable that the Department should put on its own teams, instead of depending entirely on hired teams, which are not available in sufficient numbers. Four times the number now at work could be profitably used.

Your Committee cannot but repeal the disappointment expressed in their previous reports re the slow progress being made with this great national undertaking. 'While recognising the drawbacks the Department are la homing under, owing to abnormal labour conditions, shortage of materials, etc., we are still of opinion greater progress could, and should, have been made. Too much time is wasted in decisions on small matters, and necessary supplier are unduly delayed.

-We commend to the notice of the new Minister for Public "Works the state of affairs af Mangahao. and the slow progress being, made, feeling sure that he will take the matter in hand, knowing as we do he is

fully advised as to the great need of the provision of hydro-electric power to enable a fuller development of the economic and industrial life of the nation, more especially in view of the troublous times which must come when the present time of inllation ends.”