HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3428, 6 March 1920, Page 6

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

’ ‘ T PLBLIC \VORKS METHODS

WELLINGTON, March 4..

_The methods of the Public. VVOrks 'Department were discussed by the ‘Chambers of Commerce Conference to‘day. Mr. Harris (Wanganui) moved:—“That ‘the Government be strongly uregd ‘to remove the construction and maintenance of hydro-electric schemes from the Public. Works Department and place these works in charge of 9. separate Department; also to establish :~.\Boarcl of Control, consisting of ergincers and commercial men, charged with full power to con-p struct, maintain, and control all the hydro-elccftric schemes which are a.uthori:'.e(l by Parliament, with a view to more .Izel'gy being displayed ‘in carrying out _.the schemes already authoris';(l.” The Public \Vorks .Departmenf was bound to be swayed by local and political influences, said Mr Harris. A Minister of Public Works‘? Jfad to listen to the claims of dis‘ ’ and electorates, and this means delay? and Waste. Hydro-electric development ought to be on strict business! lines. i

Mr E. H. Crabb (Palmerston North) ’ in seconding the motion, said the'arrangements at Mfangahao, for instanceshowed lack of energy and lack of business methods. Mr‘ Parry had estimated that the -Mangahao scheme could be completed in four years, but at the present rate of progress power would not" be available for seven or eight years. Another point of importance, said Mr Crabb, was ‘the discontent ‘that prevailed in the Public Works Department ’s electrical engineering stafi‘. Since the beginnnig of the year three or four engineers had resigned, and two or threg more were likely to leave. The Department had a tradition—a bad tradition. Its rule was ‘to avoid spending the money too fast. ‘That might suit political purposes, but it did not suit business men who were waiting for the development 0*? hydro-electric power. The power works should be placed under th-3 mntrol of a separate department as soon‘ as possible. The motion was -’:!.CZ"e'l‘ unarimously. I