ARAPUNI ALARMS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 797, 18 October 1929, Page 6

ARAPUNI ALARMS

APPREHENSION EXPRESSED IN HOUSE EROSION DANGERS THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, Thursday. Some concern was shown by members of Parliament in the House of Representatives today at the state of affairs at Arapuni, and two members in particular expressed themselves as dissatisfied at the way id which the problem of erosion was being tackled. They stressed the point that the best advice possible outside the Public Works Department should be called in in connection with the task of making the works safe. The Minister of Public Works (the Hon. E. A. Ransom) gave a reassuring reply, stating that there was no cause for apprehension. To a question from Mr. C. H. Clinkard (Rotorua),„in which it was asked that the Government immediately take from the three best engineers in New Zealand, outside the Public Works Department, advice on the subject of remedial measures for the erosion at the Arapuni hydroelectric works, Mr. Ransom replied that provision for safeguarding the position was being made, and work was well advanced on the penstock tunnels to reduce the quantity of water passing over the spillway. Cabinet had authorised the obtaining of outside advice. Mr. Clinkard expressed himself as dissatisfied with the reply, and considered that the measures being taken were inadequate, and that outside advice should be called in. The procedure being adopted at present was like sending a boy out to play with some blasting powder anil a box of matches. OUTSIDE ADVICE The Leader of the Opposition (the Right Hon. J. G. Coates) said that outside advice had been used both during the construction of the works and on their completion, and surely no exception could be taken to the opinion of experts such as Messrs. Marchbanks and Ferguson, and others. Mr. J. O’Brien (Westland): Did they examine* the foundations. Mr. Coates; Yes. Mr. O’Brien: Then they ought to get another job. Mr. Coates claimed that the foundations had been stated to be sound on examination. He himself had been under the river and examined the foundations.

Mr. O’Brien: The engineers admit that there are no foundations under the spillway. Mr. Coates: Nonsense! Mr. O’Brien: They do! Mr. Coates concluded by deploring the alarmist reports of certain engineers in New Zealand, and maintained that the position was being looked after.

Mr. O’Brien said that the least the legislators could do was to see that the cleverest engineers were obtained for such work, and if necessary the advice of other engineers, so that a report could be obtained as to the safety of the dam. FEAR DISAPPEARED Mr. Ransom said that some misconception appeared to exist not only in the minds of members of Parliament, but also in those of the general public. When he first took over the portfolio lie had been told that the dam was unsafe, and that the people of the Waikato were in danger of being flood’ed out, but that fear had since disappeared. If erosion did occur at the spillway, it might be necessary to de-water the lake. In his opinion, it was desirable that outside advice should be obtained, although he was perfectly satisfied as to the ability of the Public Works engineers, who were unanimous as to what should be done. It was incorrect to suggest that there was cause for alarm. It was a question whether the revenue from Arapuni should be sacrificed to appease the susceptibilities of some people, or whether the work of safeguarding should be gone on with.