NEW DAM AT ARATIATIA

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29009, 25 September 1959, Page 12

NEW DAM AT ARATIATIA

No Complaint By Authorities (New Zealand Press Association) ROTORUA, September 24. The Electric Supply Authorities Association of New Zealand is not prepared to ask the State Electricity Department to discontinue its plan to site a dam on the Waikato river near the Aratiatia rapids. At today’s conference of the association, a remit from the Horowhenua Electric Power Bard, “that at this late stage the department be requested to discontinue the plan to site a dam on the Waikato river which will eliminate the Aratiatia rapids,” received no support.

“The board feels there is a right to object to any injury which may be inflicted on any section of the community,” said the mover (Mr H. Dustin). “If Aratiatia is dropped, other schemes could be pushed ahead. The position has changed over the last few years and power is not in’such short supply.” Mr S. N. Baker (Franklin) said the remit was difficult to reconcile with the conference view that all support should be given the Government in its plan for power generation development.

“I feel the Minister was sincere when he said the scenic attractions at Aratiatia would not be destroyed,” Mr Baker said. "Do we want electric power, or are we going to worry about rapids?” The Mayor of Taupo (Mr J. E. Story) said the conference would do much better to support the Prime Minister (Mr Nash), who had called a meeting of everyone concerned in retaining natural beauty.