NO PRIVATE HYDRO SCHEMES

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 36, 12 February 1936, Page 10

NO PRIVATE HYDRO SCHEMES

The attitude of the Government regarding the granting of licences to private companies to operate hydroelectric schemes was outlined by the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) when assuring the Marlborough Power Board that he would not interfere with its plans to raise a loan to provide a larger standby plant. "We have made a decision not to grant any more, licences to private companies to develop hydroelectric power," said Mr. Semple. "We have had enough experience to know that private companies conflict with the State and cause overlapping and dual control, and we don't want to increase that trouble. Streams and rivers capable of being used for hydro-elec-tric power belong to the nation, and I am determined that they shall not be transferred to private individuals." Mr. Semple instanced the case of one company, which had been granted a licence by the previous Government to develop the Cobb River scheme in Nelson. The company had decided to transfer its licence to another company, but the Minister had refused to put his signature to it. There were iron works and other secondary industries in the Nelson Province that could and would be developed, he said, and there were similar possibilities in Marlborough. In view of this, it was not right that the hydro-electric scheme should be in private hands. The question was now under review, and would be dealt with in the course of time.