Hydro-Power and Scenic Resorts

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 33, 27 August 1952, Page 4

Hydro-Power and Scenic Resorts

At its monthly meeting last week the Taupo Town Board agreed to assoeiate itself with the, protest being made by the Hamilton Chamher o;i Commerce against the destruction oi the Huka Falls and the Aratiatia Rapids as a resuit of tne progressive march of State-hydro power stations up the Waikato River past the falls. The threatened loss of two valuable scenic resorts such as Taupo and Wairakei is a serious matter. It is timely that it should be fully ventilated, and a clear statement of the Government's intentions in this connection forthcoming. it may be argued that when weighed in the baiance tne loss of two scenic beauty spots is as nothing compared to the urgent necessity of overtaking the grave shortage of electric power for the country's industries and dcmestic amenities. It may even be contended that in the irresistible march of pr'ogress many scenic spots throughout Newr Zealand have completely disappeared. Nevertheless, the answer is that this process of obliteration has to some extent been arrested by the creatibn of Scenery Preservation and the Public Domain Boards vested with authority to conserve areas entrusted to their care, A principle thereby has been laid down and established by legislation. The threatened destruction of the Huka Falls and the Aratiatia Rapids is, in effect, a blow struck at the principle. Clearly therefore, there is a case for protest against the sacriftce of principle to expediency. This question has also been taken up by the Taupo Businessmen's Association, a step indicative of the growing uneasiness felt in cur community at the trend of Government policy in this connection. This trend is shortsighted. The Government shculd take the long view. The GeoThermal Steam project, if a proved success, offers an alternative, but it is not the only alternative./ We are on the threshold of a new age — the age of atomic energy. Its advance may be slow, but it is certain. It can be hamessed for the service of industry in peace as well as for the

i obliteration of whole cities in war. j Its possibilities for^the future outstrip the imagination of our own day and generation. With these two possibilities in mind — geo-thermal steam and atomic energy. — is a reasonable to demand from the Government a statement and explanation of its intentions in regard to the Falls and the Rapids.