DEVELOPMENT SCHEME

Evening Star, Issue 25577, 1 September 1945, Page 8

DEVELOPMENT SCHEME

SOUTH AND GENTRAL OTAGO GOULD BE ANOTHER TENNESSEE VALLEY (Special.) WELLINGTON Sept. 1. In the South and Central Otago areas, represented by Mr Bodkin and himself, there was room for one of the finest development schemes in. New Zealand, if not in the Southern Hemisphere, said Mr J. A. Roy (Clutha), speaking in the Budget debate in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. He had made a study of the Tennessee Valley Authority, and considered that from Central Otago right down to Southern Otago there was an area which lent itself to development on similar lines. In passing, Mr Roy suggested that it would be preferable to call . the Clutha River by that name right down its length, rather than the MolyneauXj which , was its. name from the. sea to Cromwell. . The factors which would, enter into the whole, scheme were flood control, hydro-electricity, afforestation, : and reclamation of waste land. If dams were erected in the Clutha River a tremendous amount of ■ electricity could be generated, and a vast amount of water could be made available for areas where it was required by . a system of controls. He expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Minister of Works,. Mr Semple, and his staff during the recent flood. There was some criticism which was unjustifiable. He wished to stress the great necessity for going on" with the major scheme for development of .the whole of that river.

The Minister of Works, Mr Semple: The engineers are now busy inspecting the whole locality. Mr Roy thanked the Minister for his statement, and said Mr Semple had been sympathetic at all times. Mr Semple: A useful and constructive talk. "