WORK AT ARAPUNI

Hawera Star, Volume L, 24 October 1930, Page 5

WORK AT ARAPUNI

HOUSE PASSES VOTE

EXPERT’S REPORT DEBATED

MEMBERS EXPRESS CONFIDENCE

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Oct, 23

When the Electric Supply Account was being considered in the House of Representatives to-night, Mr J. S. Fletcher asked for aa explanation of the vote for £1:70,000 before he would consent to its being passed. The actingPrime Minister had sahl that po plans had yet been prepared for the proposed work at Arapuni. It was a wrong principle to ask the House to vote money for work they knew nothing about.

Sir Apirant; Ngaita: .Move for a. reduction o,f the vote by 11. Mr Fletcher: I will because I am not. satisfiei with the explanation in the report. He said he would move a* reduction of the vote on the ground that there was no reasonable guarantee that the scheme bo a success after the suggestions in Professor ••Harnell’s report- had been carried out.

Mr H. T. Armstrong said the Government would have to be guided by the expert report. There was already £2,500,000 sunk in Arapuni and 1 they would have ito go ahead with the work. Mr W. L. Martin said he was prepared to bow to the opinion of the expert, but he suggested th•, expenditure should be .carefully watched. He considered the engineer should bo asked to stand to his estimates. Mr 11. E. Holland said he understood the amendment to mean that Mr Fletcher wan tea the Arapuni work abandoned. If not he should say what, he did mean. He did not think any section of the House would agree tO‘ the abandonment of (the scheme. There must be further investigation into the matter.

Hon. W. B. Taverner agreed with Mr Holland that if the reduction was carried it would mean the House wanted! the Government's programme ho be abandoned, and he did not- think the House would wish for such a course. He .assured the House that no work would be done at Arapuni till complete specifications hadrbean prepared and no money would be spent till the Government. was completely satisfied. Referring to the falls at Arapuni the Minister said not one drop of water would be run over till the Government was sure of the position. Mr P. Fraser proceeded to eritic-ise-Professor Hornell’s report, which he characterised as a “ Yes-no” scheme. It would have been infinitely better if a committee had been set up to crossexamine Professor Hornell and the Public Works engineers and thus give the House much valuable information which it should have. The motion to reduce the* vote was lost on the voices and the vote was carried.