WORK TO CEASE

Grey River Argus, 24 February 1942, Page 4

WORK TO CEASE

Lake Tekapo HYDRO-ELECTRIC SCHEME. P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, February 23. Work on the Lake Tekapo hydroelectric scheme, begun in 1940, and estimated to take three years to complete, will shortly cease, as part of the Government’s policy of transferring all available plant and men to urgent defence works. The Government's decision was announced by the Minister for Public Works (Mr. Armstrong), who expressed regret that war exigencies necessitated suspension of the development work. It was imperative that all availaole men be diverted to defence work. Work already done must be protected, and that was being done by a small staff of about 60 men, compared with a staff of over 200 when the work was in full swing. He said: “The need for power for industry and for household users is growing every year,” he added, “and the closing down of Lake Tekapo will have a decided effect on the power available in future years, until the job can be resumed. Power shortage in the South Island, however, is not nearly as big a problem as it is in the North Island. Nevertheless, the stage is being approached when the South Island power stations will have difficulty in the supply of peak loads.