WATER-POWER.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 773, 23 March 1910, Page 5

WATER-POWER.

STATE CONTROL PROPOSED AN EXTENSIVE SCHEME.

Speaking to a reporter last night, the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) stated that the Government had decided to control the natural waterpowers throughout New Zealand, and to ask Parliamentary authority to enable half a million a year to be spoilt on their development for utilisation for public as well as private purposes. "Up till now, since Parliamentary authority was given to enable a portion of the water-power to be let out privately," continued Sir Joseph, "the scheme in hand has not worked satisfactorily. Considerable difficulties-have been experienced in connection with giving the necessary assent to the requests made by some of those who have applied for them. . Under , tho existing system it is quite evident-' that a much heavier cost to the users by private undertakings would be imposed. In one instance what the country .would have got had it leased the water-power would have run into £1 per 1000 h.p. per annum, whilst those who were endeavouring to obtain the option proposed to charge as much as £10 per 1000 h.p. per annum to private users. "So it will be evident," added Sir Joseph, "that it has been a very troublesome matter up till now. The Gov-

eminent went into . the matter very carefully, and came to the conclusion that the control of the-natural waterpowers should be in. its hands and that it would be a very wise thing to ■ get authority to expend in their development up to the amount which I have named annually." .: