ARAPUNI REPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 26, 30 July 1931, Page 14

ARAPUNI REPORT

ENGINEER'S FEES

SEVERE CRITICISM

ME. SEMPLE'S ATTACK

A criticism of Professor Horuell's report on the Arapuni hydro-electric scheme was made by Mr. K. Somple (.Labour, Wellington East) in the House of Representatives last night. Mr. Seniplo alleged that the professor had endeavoured to extract extortionate foes whilo in New Zealand, and drew

a reply from the Prime Minister (the Bight Hon. G. W. Forbes), who contended that the fee paid to Professor Hornell was not a large one considering bis eminence in the engineering world.

Mr. Seinple was discussing a question put to the Minister of Public Works by Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Independent, Egmout), who had asked whether it was tho intention of the Government to publish Professor Homell's report on tho Waitaki scheme, and, if so, when would the report be published. The Minister (the Hon. W. B. Tavernor) replied that Professor Hornell paid a short visit to Waitaki aud on his return to Wellington discussed the scheme with him. It was not considered necessary to incur the expense of a detailed report.

Mr. Seuiple said that tlio House was entitled to know the contents of the report. It was entitled to know whether the professor had expressed confidence in the scheme He had been informed that the professor had been sent to Waitaki to inspect the works there and that when lie returned to Christehureh he had informed the Minister that he would be willing to write a report on Waitaki if ho were treated as liberally as he was with Arapuni. In other words, he wanted throe or four thousand pounds before ho started to speak.

Mr. W. J. Poison (Independent, Stratford): "How liberally was he treated?"

"NATION OF 'MUGS.'"

Mr. Semple: "I have been informed that he received £4000 for a report that an ordinary engineer in New Zealand could have written in half-an-hour." Mr. Semple said that Professor Hornell had also received payment for preliminary reports on other schemes. "The professor must havo been satisfied," said Mr. Semple, "when he got on board ship that we were the greatest nation of 'mugs' ho had struck in his life. I want to know what the-.processor said about the Waitaki scheme."

Tho Minister of Public Works stated in reply that on two occasions he had informed the House that be made no arrangements with Professor Hornell to prepare a report on tho Waitaki scheme. Tho professor visited the works early in October with the Chief Engineer and tho Government Geologist, and on his return to Wellington dis- ' cussed with the speaker certain aspects of tho work. Ho rnaie suggestions of ia more or less minor character relating ito the cut-off wall, the drainage system, mnd other technical matters. The processor was prepared to make a report fl'n Waitaki for a similar fee to that which was paid to him in respect to -apuni, but in addition, he made certain stipulations which i.ere not acceptable to the Government. Ho was not invited to report on Waitaki, and bo t'iir had not been paid for his visit to thjs scheme.

Mr. Semple: "He did want payment?" The Minister: "He wanted £4000 for reporting on Waitaki, but he was not engaged."

ANOTHER ATTACK,

Dv ring tho course of his speech on tho Imprest Supply Bill in the evening, Mr. temple congratulated tho Minister of Prtblic Works for refusing Professor Hornoll's demand for £4000 for a report an tho Waitaki scheme. When he had criticised the professor some months ago he had been ridiculed and per: haps hie had displayed audacity in criticising a man with so many letters after his name, but they had paid him £4000 for a report which any thirdrate engi'ncer in Now Zealand could have writsten in two hours. Tho professor hadl also been sent to Waikarenioana anrj Mr. Semple asked whether ho had be4.?n paid for a report on that seheir . The Wanganui Harbour Board had asked Professor Hornell for a report on the port, and he had demanded a fee of £3 000.

A membar: "Did the3r pay him?"

Mr. Seuvp'tUs: "No. They were sensible people. Perhaps if they had had the money they would have paid him, but ho did not' get away with the swag there. The '.New Plymouth people proposed to inviifce the professor to report on a hydro-ij'lectric scheme there, aud I believe thijl professor wanted to relieve them ol' £1400. Ho wasn't invited."

Mr. 10. J. I Toward (Labour, Christchurch South)1,- "Did he report on the No. 5 scheme?' 1: (Laughter.)

Mr. Semple: '."No, ho didn't report on (hat. The Kaw arau Gold Mining Company sought th{; services of this wonderful professor>-—" ...

Mr. A. M. Samuel (Reform, Thames): "What has been done with tho honour able gentleman's! report?"

Mr. Semple: ".I- did not write a report, but it is on record that I predicted the collapi* -at Arapuni long before they sent i'or the professor."

Mr. P. Fraser .(Labour, Wellington Central): "Now the concrete' has washed away."

Mr.- Semple said that Professor Hornell had inspected the Kawarau works, and on his return to England had written a report wJ ich he had lodged in a bank, giving instructions that it was not to be released until his fee had been paid. Th<i company had no money to pay for tho report. (Laughtor.)

A member: "On wihose recommendation did he come to Hew Zealand?"

"THE LOADED DICE."

Mr. Semple: "1 beiUevo lie was recommended by tho Hijjh Commissioner. In addition to his profession, he also knew somothiug about ihe use of loaded dice, and he tried to put the loaded dice on tho people of' this country." Mr. Semple said that Professor Hornell had wanted thousands and thousands of pounds for'his services 3n this country. Four millions had already been spout on Arapuni, and time would tell whether (lie £-:1000 paid to. the professor had been justißcd. Profess* >r Hornell had come from a granite eg untry, and ho had been asked to report on what was a oleanic rubbish heap.

Mr. Samuel: "Did the Labour Party object?"

Mr. Semple: "The Labour Party had nothing to do with it. The'.y were never consulted.''

Mr. Samuel: "They wei'o behind the Government.''

Mr. Semple said that h«' had always regarded Arapuni as a was, to of money, and he was also opposed to some of the other schemes in operation. Lake Coleridge had been successful, but they had had difficulties there la st summer.

A Eeform member: "What about Horahora?"

Mr. Somple; "I believe' that is the best scheme in the country, but it was curried out by a private lirni."

A Itcform member: "That: shows the wisdom of private enterprise.'.'

Another member: "You Jtre getting into deep water."

Mt. Semple: "The Reform Party will ,be in deep water .-when the '(next flood

comes at Arapuni, aud they will be answerable for tho £4,000,000 which havo boon squandered there."

AN EMINENT ENGINEER.

The, Prime Minister (tho Right Hon. G. W. Forbes) said that Professor Hornell occupied an eminent position in tho engineering world, and had been asked to report on over 100 hydroelectric schemes in different parts of tho world. It was not to his detriment that ho came from a granite country, as ho had reported on schemes all over the world. Mr. Forbes said that he could remember ,Mr. Semple talking with scorn about the engineers of New Zealand.

Mr. Semple: "The Chief Engineer.' 7

Mr. Forbes said that there was a tendency by practical men to under-esti-mate the value of engineers, but when practical men were called upon to hnndlo big schemes they found themselves -in difficulties. When the disaster occurred at Arnpuni it had been pointed out in the House that the Government would have to take the responsibility if the dam broke away, and that any "neglect would be criminal. The Government took the view that the best advice should be obtained, and had secured the services of Professor Hornell.

Some evidently considered that £4000 was a high fee, but when tho Christehurch City Council asked an engineer to investigate the Waimakariri River some years ago with a view to hydro-electric development it had to pay a fee of £10,000. Mr. J. O'Brien (Labour, Westland): '' That was for a survey and everything else."

Mr. Forbes said that Professor Hornell was an engineer of high eminence, and £4000 was not a big fee for his services in view of the fact that a trip to New Zealand meant that he would be away from his business for many •months.

Mr. Semple; "Why didn't you pay him for Waitaki?"

Mr. Forbes said that there was not tho same apprehension in regard to Waitaki, which was on a> solid.foundation. The Government was satisfied that it had secured tho services of the best man available, and his report had done much to reassure the people of the Waikato Valley. The Leader of the Labour Party (Mr. v. E. Holland) asked why, if there was no necessity for a report on tho Waitaki scheme, Professor Hornell was asked to make one. He paid a tribute to Mr. Semple for his attitude in regard to Arapuni. „