Power from the Waimakariri.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17813, 12 July 1923, Page 8

Power from the Waimakariri.

It is obviously impossible at this stage to say anything about the economic aspects or the Waimakariri power scheme. The report prepared by Messrs Haw Icy and C-o. will not be public property for a week or two, and even if layjnen' can "digest'' it then, tliey will not necessarily bo able to apply it to the city's circumstances and needs. Past experience would suggest rather that many digestive processes will be necessary before even export:, will be able to say, "This is a payable proposi"tion, and tho Government must be " asked for permission to go on with "it." But that means only that no one must form extravagant hopes m advanoe. Mr Schrieber'a investigation should provide a fairly accurate estimate of construction costs, and show with reasonable definiteness at what cost further developments will be possible. If we may assume or imagine what the demand will be, then it should not be impossible, when Mr Hitchcock is in a position to elucidate the report for ns, to decide as accurately as srach questions ever can be decided whether the WaimaJcariri can meet this demand on termß that experts would jregard as satisfactory in themselves. But the problems the city will have to decide then are: (1) Whether Waimakariri power will be as cheap, unit for unit, as power supplied by Coloxidge at a Dominion flat rate; and (2) whether it is a sound general policy for a city as big as CJhristchurch not only

to bo dependent, on the Government-, : nut: on a single.sourct ot supply. There can be no doubt that the Government would rrant a license to harness the Waimakariri if the community were sure that it wanted one, and were j united in demanding it. Permission j was .granted to South Canterbury to invef=iiigate (and 01 course, if desired, to develop) the Tekapo scheme, even ; thoußli in granting it the Department R.icriiieed ii.« cherished plan of concentrating on major developments first, and putiing the whole of the South Island lin effect) on a single line. It happens, actually, that South Canter- ' bury does not sec-m likely now—cer- j t'ainly not at once—to break in on ; the general plan, but- since it has permission to do so if it wishes, Christchurch would get permission also to develop a stand-by at the "Waimakariri. ; Permission could, in fact, not be re- i fused. If the Government is entitled j to make the South Island pay for the North island—as it will if the hulkprice from Coleridge goes up nearly I'M) per cent.—Christchuivh is entitled to limit its consumption of the high-priced commodity and produce a , cheaper of its own. No community can j be compelled, or should ever be expected. to surrender to its rivals the oulv advantage it lias to counter-bal-ance its many disadvantages. It Wellington and Auckland. with their wonderful shipping facilities arc to he given cheap power out of the pockets of Ohristchurch traders, why should ; not Cliristcliuroh get assistance from : the North Island in some other direc- j tion? And there can be no real foun- ■ dation Car the that if j Ohristchurch goes on with the Wai- j makariri scheme the Government will I not go on with further works at Coleridge. All the power that can be developed in Canterbury can, and will be, used in Canterbury indefinitely, for although it may seem possible to fix a limit to our power demands now, no one can say to what further demands satisfaction of present needs will progressively give rise.