GEOTHERMAL POWER

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26605, 15 December 1951, Page 6

GEOTHERMAL POWER

MINISTER INSPECTS PROJECT

CONFIDENCE EXPRESSED IN SUCCESS

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, December 14.

The Minister in charge of the State Hydro-electric Department (Mr W. S. Goosman), speaking at Wairakei today, said he was very optimistic about the prospects of generating power from geothermal steam. He had previously inspected the Wairakei area of investigation, and had discussed the work in progress with the engineers. “We are right past the doubtful stage at Wairakei,** he said. “We can go on with confidence in the future. I am quite satisfied now ‘that our investigations have been justified.” The Minister said that the Commissioner of Works (Mr E. R. McKillop). as well as Mr W. H. Fisher, inspecting engineer of the Ministry of Works, and Mr R. McMillan, drilling superintendent of tie Mines Department, would return soon after visiting the Italian geothermal centre of Larderello. He would make a statement on Wairakei after the New Year, in the light of their investigations. With the Minister was Mr J. R. Hanan, member of Parliament for Invercargill. who saw the geothermal work ror the first time.

Mr Hanan said the success of the Wairakei scheme would help to safeguard supplies of electricity for the Dominion. ‘‘Previously I was somewhat sceptical,” he said. “But it seems that there is a very real chance of solving in this way the problem of future power supply in the North Island, when the hydro-electric potential is exhausted.”