CONTINUOUS WORK PLANNED FOR POWER SCHEMES

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 September 1947, Page 6

CONTINUOUS WORK PLANNED FOR POWER SCHEMES

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, This Day. The tunnellers working on the Mareaetai hydro-electric scheme are being asked by the Government to work seven days weekly, 24 hours daily, on a shift basis, The Minister of Works, Mr Semple, told the annual conference of the Power Boards and Supply Authorities’ Association today. He described Maraetai as the key to the future of the North Island’s power supply. The Government hoped to have Maraetai finished in three years. The Minister said he intended to negotiate with the trade union representative at the Lake Pukaki scheme in the South Island for a seven-day working week and 24 hours daily on a shift basis. It was doubtful whether New Zealand could secure a steam plant from overseas as quickly as the hydro schemes could be completed. The commonsense way to solve the country’s power shortage was to push on with hydro works and “not worry about steam.” The Government would have obtained a steam plant tor the interim period if this had been possible, he added. He public that it must take care in the next two or three years if it wished to avoid serious power cuts.