MARAETAI 2 CLOSING

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29745, 12 February 1962, Page 12

MARAETAI 2 CLOSING

“Quickly As Possible” (N.Z. Press Association) ROTORUA, Feb. 11. The end of Mangakino as a home for Waikato river power project workers was hastened yesterday by a Government decision. The Government has told Mr N. C. McLeod, the project engineer, to ‘Eclose Maraetai 2 down as quickly as possible.” Mr McLeod said today that within two weeks the 160 labour force on the doomed project would be trimmed to 50.

The men would be transferred to Aratiatia and Wairakei projects “as fast as we can." Mr McLeod said. "We will have to finish essential work on the project to leave It in a safe condition. And we will leave some work that we know should be done till later—possibly in a year.” Only a small maintenance staff would then be kept, he said. Married men on transfer will live in single quarters at Aratiatia and Wairakei. but they will retain their Mangakino homes. Dissatisfied workers would discuss the latest announcement at a meeting on Monday night. Mr S. P Hart, secretary of the Waikato Hydro branch of the New Zealand Workers’ Union, said today.

“We don’t like this one bit.” he said. When the Government first made its decision to close Maraetai 2 in October, 500 men worked on the project Businessmen fear the future of their enterprises. “It's all these different decisions which upset,” one said.