“UNFAIR TACTICS"

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 498, 30 October 1928, Page 8

“UNFAIR TACTICS"

THE ARAPUNI SCARE PRIME MINISTER’S REFUTATION “Some of the tactics being used in the election are not quite fair,” remarked the Prime Minister last evening, referring to the doubts cast on Arapuni dam. “I must refer to this as there are some people who will think there are some facts behind the statements made by Mr. Holmes. A Voice: So there are. The Prime Minister: You would believe anything. He said he had received a number of reports during the day. and proceeded to read them. The reports were from Messrs. F. W. Furkert, engineer-in-chief. Public Works Department; Mr. J. Marchbanks, engineer to the Wellington Harbour Board; Dr. J. Henderson, director of the New Zealand Geological Survey, the two latter having been members of the expert inquiry into the dam site, and Dr. P. Marshall. He included the following statements: Mr. Furkert: “The actual excavation tallied wonderfully well with anticipations. The statements abou: the exploratory shafts and tunnels are garbled and incorrect. No leakage of water into the tunnel caused work to be abandoned. It was not abandoned; it was finished, and disclosed nothing to indicate that work should not proceed. The suggestion that the enterprise at Arapuni is as hazardous as betting on any horse race is not the kind of language used by engineers in a serious discussion, so I conclude the article is not intended to be taken seriously. Nothing has been disclosed by or during tho construction of the works which would in any way tend to alter the considered conclusion that the scheme of works was safe, sound, logical, economical and such as a Government should undertake with confidence.”

Mr. Marchbanks: “I have no reason to alter the opinion originally given, that the gravity type dam is perfect!) stable.”

Dr. Henderson: “The tunnel beneath the river before the contract was k and the excavations after the river was diverted positively proved that there were no earthquake rents at the dam site. The earthquake risk at Arapuni is no greater than in other parts in New Zealand outside the Rotorua-Taupo zone. Dam is of gravity arch type, heavy enough to resist the water pressure without support from sides, and can collapse only T!lter extensive undermining. Foundation rock is strong and insoluble; bores into it bottomed in similar rock, and I do not believe that extensive undermining can take place.” Dr. Marshall: “I have studied the report of the Arapuni Commission carefully and critically in the light of my own geological knowledge of district. I consider all geological facts compel the opinion that the dam foundations are absolutely secure.” “It all goes to show that a fortnight before the election someone with a grouch against the Prime Minister and the Public Works Department tries to make capital by hoisting this canard about the position in the Waikato. The thing is ridiculous. In addition to these reports Sir John Butters, of Tasmania, inspected the dam in detail, and declared it OL, also Mr. Bush ” This provoked laughter. “I mean the famous Swedish electrical engineer,” remarked Mr. Coates. “He said it was one of the finest schemes in the world, and definitely safe.”

FAMILY GRIEVANCE MR. STEWART’S STATEMENT THREAT TO GOVERNMENT Press Association. DUNEDIN, Monday. The Arapuni dam allegations were made the subject of reference by the Minister of Finance, the Hon. IV, Downie Stewart, at a meeting of electors in the Kaikorai Presbyterian Church Hall this evening. The real cause of the whole business was that there was a quarr* between the Holmes family and the Government, about a quarry concern said Mr. Stewart. Since then Mr Stewart had received letters threatening all sorts of disclosures if th< Holmes’s grievance were not remedied, but it had been found that the writer, Mr. Holmes's son, was suffering from a severe illness. It was not known, however, to what extent Mr. Holmes was in league with his son in the matter, continued the Minister. A short time ago he (AI: Stewart) had received a letter from Mr. Holmes stating that if the longstanding grievance were not remedied he would publish a sensational article with respect to the Arapuni dam. Letters had also been received making the most broadcast accusations against the engineer-in-chief of the Public Works Department, Mr. F. W. Furkert, but Mr. Furkert’s reputation was sufficiently well known to the electors.