ARAPUNI.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19979, 14 July 1930, Page 10

ARAPUNI.

THE RECENT SHUT-DOWN.

STATEMENT BY MR COAXES.

[THE ?BBB» Special Servtce.]

WELLINGTON, July 13,

Regret that the unfortunate breakdown of the Arapuni hydro-electric scheme was being exploited in some quarters for political purposes, was expressed by the Leader of the Opposition (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) in tho course of an interview bofore his departure for the south.

All Sensible men, said Mr Coates, would feel that the position called for invesigation and a cool, impartial judgment by experts with a view to deciding what was now the best thing to be done. If it was suggested that the late Reform Government was in any way to blame for authorising the work, then the fair and proper course for the present Government was that which he had suggested in the House, namely, tho setting up of a Royal Commission with a Judge of the Supreme Court as president, to enquire into the whole matter. Mr Coates said he hoped that in fairness to himself and his colleagues this course would be followed.

It should be remembered, ho said, that Mr Massey 's Cabinet did not adopt the scheme until the country had been throughly examined by experts again and again and again. The most careful and painstaking scientific tests were made by engineers and a geologist, these preliminary investigations extending over several years. It should be remembered, further, that the reports of the New Zealand engineers and geologist were subsequently favourably commonted upon by qualified men sent out by a number of great British and other overseas firms who came to examine the country before submitting tenders for the job. If their judgment was mistaken, and this has not been finally demonstrated, the only conclusion to be drawn is that even the most highly qualified experts may not bo infallible, but all that any; Government or the responsible Minister can do is to secure the fullest investigation by experts to ensure that every pre. caution has been taken to check the calculations and then to base the Government's decision on the result. In the Public Works Statement, 1920, the Chief Electrical Engineer, Mr Evan Parry, said:—-"Extensive exploration work was required at the site of the proposed dam, and is now nearing completion. In testing the character of the rock and its suitability for foundations, and tho distance to which concrete work should extend, a total of 3474 feet of shafts, stopes, drives, and adits has been put in. One of these drives runs right under the river, and another drive runs the greater part of the length of the diversion tunnel. Important tests are nearing completion to determine the waterproofness and strength of the rock which forms the sides and bottom of the gorge, and other tests ar«* in hand. A geological report has been made by the Geological Survey < Department, and chemical tests are being carried out at the Dominion laboratory." It should bo added that by this tune the investigations had already been in progress for at least four years. In 1921 the Public Works Department roported further: "At Arapuni a vast amount of information has been collected during the year, and the results of this were submitted to a committee of engineers who visited and inspected the site. The gentlemen decided that to make the dam doubly safe it would, be necessary to amend the design somewhat. ' A series of drives on the sides of the gorge and along the line of the proposed diversion channel hav been completed and the results submitted to a committee of engineers." The committee consisted of Mr W. H. Morton (then engineer to the Wellington City Council), Mr James Marshbanks (engineer to the Wellington Harbour Board), Mr F. W. Furkert (then senior inspecting engineer of the Public Works Department), and Dr. Henderson (head of the Geological Survey Department). All this committee's recommendations were adopted, and it is clear that every possible precaution was taken to assure the soundness of the proposed undertaking before the scheme was finally adopted. The Arapuni scheme was adopted by the Government in July, 1921. In 1924 Mr F. T. M. Kissel reported:—"ln response to an invitation for tenderc several British firms sent out expert engineers to investigate the proposals on the ground. Three complete tenders were received for Section 1 (dam and headworks) and four complete tenders for Section . 2 (power-house building and plant). In view of the discussion and criticism of this scheme which has taken place from time to time, it is satisfying to know that the various experts who investigated it in connexion with these tenders were unanimous as to the natural advantages of the Bite. It is satisfying also to know that they could suggest no improvements on the Department's design of the scheme." Questioned about Armstrong Whitworth's withdrawal from their contract in 1927, Mr Coates pointed out that this was not because of any doubt regarding the scheme in general. The dispute was confined to the question of dewatering the foundations of the powerhouse. They contended that it was impossible to accomplish this, but the Public Works Department thereupon successfully accomplished it. Holmes's criticism was concerned with the dam site and did not touch .the point at which the trouble has now actually occurred. With regard to the cost of the scheme Mr Coates remarked that although the total expenditure amounted to £2,287,000, it should not be overlooked that £425,000 of this was spent on transmission lines and sub-stations. This suin would have been required in any case, whatever source of supply had been adopted. The actual cost of the Arapuni headworks and generating plant (the whole of the works at Arapuni) was £1,862,000, including about £243,000 interest charges while the works w*ere under construction.

"There are complete engineers who declare," said Mr Coates, "that the expenditure of another £1,000,000 on Arapuni would put it into working order again and safeguard it against almost any contingency in the future. That is purely a question for the experts, but it should bo made clear that if the expenditure of another £1,000,000 would give us a permanently satisfactory job from the engineering standpoint, such an expenditure would be justified economically. On the basis of comparative costs per kilowatt, Arapuni would still be the moat economic source of power supply available, but of course the whole question turns on the geological and engineering prospects, which no layman can estimate. The engineers of the Department know far more than any outsider of the difficulties met with in the past and likely to be met with in the future. These officers should be asked to express their considered views as to wha.t steps should now be taken at Arapuni. That is the first necessity. Then, in order that public opinion may be satisfied and political colour avoided, the Government should accede to my request for a Royal Commission to investigate and make public the whole history of the scheme from its inception.'^