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are prepared to operate in New Zealand generally and not only in Taranaki. We think that the field warrants the Government taking a much greater interest in the industry than it has taken in the past. I urge that there should be a proper scheme of development put in hand by the Government, preferably in combination with the Anglo-Persian Company, because the company would be prepared to send out oil geologists. Dr. A. K. Newman: Do you think it is wise to let a powerful outside company come in and take part in the development of the industry?—ln this case I do, because they are out to develop the oils within the Empire. When they prove the field they will withdraw and allow the Government to take it over. We shall have everything we desire if we associate with a company like the Anglo-Persian Company, which is largely controlled by British capital. lam afraid our Government would not put the same enthusiasm into the development of the field that the company would. To Mr. Hudson: The British Government have two millions of capital in the Anglo-Persian Company, and have refused eight millions for their interest in it. To Mr. Veitch: My main reason for wishing to have the Anglo-Persian in conjunction with the Government is that the company will give us advice as to where to spend the money. That class of advice has not been available so far. We have had no proper oil geologists in the Dominion to report to us. We have had reports from Dr. Bell and others, but they were not oil experts. To Mr. Cragie: If the Anglo-Persian Company conies in we will have plenty of money and expert advice to guide us. To Mr. Sidey: I suggest that the.company should thoroughly develop the field, because it has an expert staff at its command to enable it to do so. There; are two things necessary—(l) expert and scientific knowledge, and (2) capital. Ido not think the Government could secure the expert knowledge. lam of opinion that the industry should belong to the Government. It is a national concern. As to whether our company has been approached by any foreign syndicate, that is a matter I could not make public. We have five wells, all situated at Moturoa. R. H. Bartley, Electrical Engineer, New Plymouth Borough Council, examined. Ido not propiose to go into details in connection with the hydro-electric scheme, I merely want to inform you that we have a development which we intend to go on with here which will ultimately give us between 6,000 and 8,000 horse-power, and out of that amount of horse-power we estimate that the ultimate requirements of New Plymouth will be within the vicinity of 3,000 horse-power, and consequently we will have a balance that we are prepared to distribute for the requirements of the various industries within the district. The requirements of New Plymouth at the present time—that is, the highest load we have been called upon to cover up to date—is 900 horse-power. We have approximately in the town a load connected with our supply system of about 3,000 horse-power. Out of that, 1,182 horse-power is represented in motors for supplying the various industries—that is not including the tramways. As to the actual demand for current from our supply system, it is illustrated by the figures up to the end of March—33s per cent, increase on the previous year. The source of our power is on the Waiwakaiho River, greatly altering the conditions under which we are working at the present time; and in respect to that I will ask Mr. Blair Mason to substantiate what I am going to tell you —that is, b3' increasing our head at the present station, and by making certain facilities for using the whole of the water that is in the river, and also by arranging for a ver3' large storage of water, we are able to generate that amount of horse-power. Ido not think there is very much else that I can emphasize from the electrical point of view. We are going to standardize our system. At the present time we are on the one-phase system, and we are altering that to the three-phase. That will be done as we go along. To the Chairman: We are applying to the Government for certain assistance. Our requests will be quite reasonable, and I do not think the Government will, do anything else but assist us. I shall be very glad when we get the Government scheme through in this district, and no doubt we shall be able to assist the Government in connection with the scheme. The Government can help us in permitting us to extend on the river, which we are asking for, and in regard to an increased area for the demand for the current. F. 'V Bellringbb, Town Clerk, New Plymouth, examined. 1 want to explain that the only reason why we have come before the Committee is this: We understand that many parts of Taranaki want assistance in respect to electric power, and we thought that if the Committee had knowledge of the present position of New Plymouth in respect to electric power and as to its position in a few years' time—that it will have electricity to spare— the Committee would be able to assist these other local bodies who are looking for power and urging the Government to give them power—that they should know that this power is available at New Plymouth. We thought that perhaps the Committee might, wish to know where the power could be got to assist these people who want the power. We do not ask anything special from the Government, because we are going along the usual channels with our requests, We have not been turned down in any way by the Government. We wish the Committee to know that we have the power available. To Mr. Sidey: Mr. Parry was not consulted either in regard to the existing scheme nor as to the new proposal. I anticipate that our scheme will ultimately be linked up with the Government scheme; but we have got no understanding with the Government officials on that point, I do not know that we will need additional water rights—probably we will; but we need to alter the position of our intake on the river. I think it is estimated that, the expenditure will be £12,000. To Mr. Graigie: We are at present charging Id. a unit for power, and for lighting 4.U1. to 6d., according to contracts.