STILL IDLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 146, 23 June 1930, Page 10

STILL IDLE.

STAFF. AT ARAPUNI.

SECRECY ORDER STANDS.

MR. SEMPLE NOT EXCEPTED

ASTONISHMENT EXPRESSED,

(By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") HAMILTON, this day. Operations at Arapuni during the pas week have not served to produce optim ism in the minds of the staff. Th main crack has now been traced for ; distance of 10 chains along the hea< race, making a total distance of 1000 ft and many subsidiary cracks are to b found branching olf at various angle across the channel. The main on of these carries up on to the con crete platform above the race and ove the top of one of the penstocks, con timiing up into the- bank towards tin transformer station. Mr. 11. Semple, M.P., who, with Messrs R. McKean and W. Lee Martin, M.P.'fe inspected the works on Saturday, pro tested, in an interview with a "Star' representative, against the oflicia secrecy. The published statement from Wei lington that Mr. Semple and Mr. Mc Kean represent the Now Zealanc Workers Union was not correct, said Mr Semple. They went to Arapuni tc gather first-hand information so thai they would be able to know,, wher Parliament met, how to vote upon anj proposed expenditure on the Arapun scheme. ' While' there tlxey inspected tin tunnels aucl had given a frank ani honest opinion on what they saw. In attempting to gather information they were thankful to Mr. T. Rabone the engineer in charge, for the courtcsj he had extended to them, but they were amazed to discover that he was forbidden to give them any informatior whatever, although all facilities foi inspection were given them. That, tc their minds, was a preposterous atti tude for. any Government to take up The policy of silence was obviouslj dictated the cngineer-in-chicf, Avithout the knowledge or consent of his Minister, confirmation of which was given by the Minister in. his telegraphed statement from Dunedin, that' the first he knew of work being suspended was when he saw the statement in tin ■Press.; v No better description had been made, said Mr. Semple, than that published in the "Auckland Star" on Saturday, that • Arapuni at present resembled a valley oi •the dead.