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Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 55, 11 July 1974, Page 1

Operation Huka Falls floodlighting got underway last weekend. Taupo Kiwanis and MED staff began cutting a trench on the eastern side of the falls to accommodate the power cable. The cable will be fed in from a power connection beyond the eastern escarpment. Conscious of the fauna and flora, Kiwanis' volunteers had earlier cut a track through the scrub for the trench to follow. The switch-on will take place on September 13 during the Kiwanis' national convention, which this year is being held at Wairakei. The Kiwanis have had an uphill battle to get their project started. Although they gained prompt approval from the MED and borough council

— which has long advocated the project but has been unable to act because of restricted finance — the club members ran into power politics earlier this year. The Government, sensitive to any suggestion of power wastage, decided to withhold the $2000 project grant originally pledged by the previous Government and agreed to by Labour. The Prime Minister, who had earlier agreed to officially switch the lights on, also opted out. The club did some concentrated lobbying — and the Government agreed to make the payment. It was pointed out that if the grant was not made the cost of the undertaking would inevitably rise, possibly beyond the means of the club. The club had raised $2000 and pledged $1500 in machinery and labour and the borough council had set aside $2000. Just who will perform the official switch-on remains to be seen. One can only hope the Government will recognise the long-term worth of the project and propose a senior Cabinet Minister at least.