HYDRO-ELECTRIC SCHEME

Lake County Press, Issue 2796, 31 July 1919, Page 5

HYDRO-ELECTRIC SCHEME

Conference of Public Bodies in Dunedin. A conference of representatives from local bodies in Otago, promoted by the Otago Expansion League, was held in Dunedin on Thursday There were about 50 representatives of various bodies in Otago present. Mr A Sim son, Mayor of Queenstown, was amongst those present. The following resolution was unanimously carried : That this meeting, representative of local bodies, semi-public organisations, and citizens, reaffirm the urgent necessity (in the interests of the province of Otago) of the immediate utilisation of hydro-electric energy, and that the Government be requested and urged to give every possible assistance in the carrying out of a scheme to give effect to this resolution ; that in view of the satisfactory reply received from Sir Joseph Ward to the cablegram sent by Otago Expansion League dealing with finance, the time has now arrived for definite action, and it is resolved that the necessary data be prepared covering a scheme to supply the necessities of the province as a whole ; that in order to deal promptly and effectively with the foregoing resolution, an executive committee be appointed to prepare a detailed and concrete report for submission to all local bodies and semi-public organisations, such committee to be empowered to arrange for any professional or other services which may be found necessary and tc appeal to local bodies, other organisations, and private citizens to provide the necessary preliminary expenses. The general opinion of the meeting was that the Wanaka-Hawea scheme was the best to supply Otago with electrical energy. Mr Brodrick (Cromwell) said that to do the thing for themselves they would require to form a board, including all the local bodies. If Dunedin would not come in herself to make herself prosperous, the backblocks would have to push her along. The Hawea-Wanaka scheme, with transmission to Dunedin, was estimated by Mr Hay at £2,200,000. The Hon Sir W. Fraser said the cost would be one and a half million, and bethought Mr Parry’s report, which the Minister quoted, should be furnished. Right at once, however, they could form the board and get the plans and specifications and estimates formed. Later, a levy could be made on the constituent districts to provide money for the preliminary survey and report. Then would be the time to consider whether they should go on with the scheme themselves or get the Government to do it. Ho had not much faith in Government engineers, and thought for the purpose of this report they should import an engineer an independent 1 man. If Dunedin v/ould not come in they'could make her an outer area and supply her with power at their own ' price. (Laughter). Mr Simson (Queenstown) said the introduction of electrical power would

make the conditions of living in this country more tolerable. He mentioned that in California a company had brought water a distance of 800 miles, and had coverted an arid waste into a great fruit-growing district. It was decided to raise the sum of £2,000 for preliminary expenses. A committee, representative of all parts of Otago, was appointed to take preliminary steps decided upon. Messrs A. Simson and W. Heid are the di-tricfc representative on the committee.