WATER POWER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 116, 24 August 1910, Page 5

WATER POWER.

HON. T. McKENZIE ON ITS DEVELOPMENT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In reply to a deputation from Christchurch City Council to-day, urging the speedy development of the Lake Coleridge water power scheme, the Hon. R. McKenzie said Lake Coleridge was one of the easiest developed schemes in tfew Zealand. He said: "We have all the necessary details in the shape of surveys, and I recognise that "we have a good market in Canterbury. If Parliament voted the money, Lake Coleridge could be started in a couple of months." There was no doubt the Government would have to start a scheme in both Islands, and, seeing that Lake Coler:.ige had ibeen applied for first, he thought the Government was under some obligation (to provide electricity. He was considering whether the whole scheme „ i should be treated as a railway system, or divided into localities. The question of selling power in bulk or otherwise, must be considered. If the Governme* iwas to distribute electric power, it should take over whatever work had been done. His idea was that this power should be made a complete monopoly for the people. Lake Coleridge was the first scheme that must be started in the , South Island. ,