PROBLEM OF ARAPUNI

Hawera Star, Volume L, 23 October 1930, Page 4

PROBLEM OF ARAPUNI

SWEDISH EXPERT’S REPORT

MIXED VIEWS IN HOUSE ) MR. SEMPLE AGAIN CRITICAL, n (By Telegraph—Press Association.) e , WELLINGTON, Oct, 22. Tli.e- report of Professor Hornell ou j_ the Arapuni hydro-electric scheme was presented for consideration in tine House of Representatives to-day. Mr. J. G. Coates moved that lhe I import be referred to the Cover ament r * for favourable consideration, and said that it was pleasing; that it was a report that would allay public feelings, f in addition to that, "it very definitely b .plied the development of the scheme. ■" The report did not suggest that the full ® expenditure mentioned would be necessarv before the turbines started work ■J again. It was a satisfactory feature “ that New Zealand’s own experts and v engineers had emerged with Hying < oly ours 1 . e Mr. Coates said he was satisfied that -very precaution had been taken, md - k> undue risk permitted in the deveiopr ment of the scheme. The country woufd e .e well satisfied with the action of the Government in bringing Professor r o.nell to> the Dominion to investigate -he scheme. That action would lead to>~f e more complete confidence regarding ’T' i the scheme. / l Mr. R. Semple said he did not think Y Professor Hornell had said the 'last _ chin on about the subject, and to his r mind the report was a very unsatisfae--1 tory one. Professor Hornell had] not 3 had a first-hand opportunity of obtainr hig complete information, and he had not seen the effect on the country when the scheme was in operation. ’ Mr. Semple asserted that- there was j not a line in the report that guaran- , teed success when the remedial measj. ures had been adopted. He was afraid that if ever the full power was harnessed at Arapuni it wouidl be found that the report was worth nothing. Nature would have the last say. Professor Hornell had had no experience of volcanic country, whereas the former Government expert who had wrestled with New Zealand’s problems, had condemned this region. Mr. Semple believed there were men in New Zealand who knew more, of the geological conditions of tho_ country and who would be able to give better proposals for meeting the situation. His desire was that more likely measures than those recommended by Professor Hornell should be adopted if snch measures could be ascertained, Mr. R. A. Wright said Mr. Semple had argued that Professor Hornell had no knowledge of volcanic country, but he had* given no reasons for such a contention. Mr. Wright added that he preferred to rely on the judgment of a man who was one of the most preeminently able of bis calling in the world. He believed the professor would not lightly risk, his reputation. Mr. J. McCombs said he thought Mr. Semple had made out a sufficiently good case to warrant Cabinet having the question of Arapuni again thorouighlv investigated in the light ojf the criticism offered. Mr. J. S. Fletcher asked whether it was sound business to go on with the Aratpuni scheme. He alleged that the people of t'he Dominion had been misled from start to finish as to its efficiency. He considered it was absolutely a gamble and he contended that she Government should not spend more money on the scheme until there was a guarantee of a reasonable prospect of , \ success. j?

(Left Sitting)