HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 245, 13 October 1917, Page 4

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

NORTH ISLAND SCHEME.

IMMEDIATE ACTION URGED.

THE WAIKATO SOURCE.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.!

WELLINGTON, Friday. Reference was made in the Public Works debate to-night to the development of the hydro-electrical energy in the North Island, several members urging that everything should be done to prepare for the energetic progress of the 1 Xorth Island scheme immediately on the conclusion of the war. Mr. Poole pointed out that Auckland was anxiously waiting for some indication of Government enterprise in providing large supplies of electricity from water power. Municipalities with large power plants need not fear scrapping them, because they would be needed as standby plants. As was the case with the Lake Coleridge scheme, the Government had granted away to a private mining company the natural source of electrical supply for Auckland City, and the Government Engineer afterwards suggested that the Horahora supply should 'be taken over and developed, a certain percentage being given to the companies at Waihi. This showed how easy it was for companies to beat the people of the country for national assets, even after the Government had set down a definite policy for the preservation of these same assets. Mr. Young expressed pleasure that comprehensive surveys had been made of the Waikato River at Arapuni, where Mr. Parry (Chief Electrical Engineer) had declared 120,000 horse-power could be obtained. He urged that as soon as a survey staff was available it would be set to survey tue route for the trunk transmission line between the Waikato and Auckland. The Minister of Public Works, replying to tb.3 comment at a late hour, said that the Lake Coleridge scheme was a great .success, and although the revenue jumped from £8,000 to £20,000, it did not yet pay interest, sinking fund and depreciation. He could have covered all expenses, but deemed it wiser to show the public how cheaply electricity could be supplied to the consumers if sufficient current was used. That being the case, it was his duty to carry out the intention of Parliament, which was that other cities, like Wellington and Auckland, should at once be provided with the same kind of power. The Minister went on to say that, owing to the war, it was impossible to do anything beyond preparing for expenditure. Plant and machinery were impossible to obtain. Tlie Finance Minister had made it clear that the country could not enter into any scheme which would involve probably one or two millions at a time when ail money was wanted for war purposes. The question of sources from which to obtain water-power had been considered, and the Chief Electrical Engineer considered a good place for supplying Wellington would be near Mangahou, and for supplying Auckland the proper thing would be to harness the Waikato River at Arapuni. It was next necessary to know where the necessary works should be erected, in order to b e safe in flood time, and to survey the line would run into £4,000 or £5,000, which was a matter the engineers had first to report upon. >.uen the war was over he hoped that there would be plenty of labour and also money available to carry on this scheme. Discussing Lake Waikaremoana as the source of power, the Minister said that Mr. Parry was definite in his opinion that while Waikaremoana would be an easy source for water--power, he was opposed to the idea of obtaining the whole energy needed for the North Island [from one place. Mr. Parry considered that it would be much better to have three sources of power, which in future could all be connected up, so that power could be transmitted from one to another as required. He considered the reasons advanced in favour of having three sources to be cogent ones.