Manawatu Evening Standard. MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1917. THE HYDRO-ELECTRIC SCHEMES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10107, 15 October 1917, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1917. THE HYDRO-ELECTRIC SCHEMES.

Til khe is an obvious reason for delaying further extensions ol the national wafer power schemes until alter the war. The country districts have been so largely depleted of their workers, that the opening up of any new public works that would have the effect of drawing labour from the primary pro- | during industries would be a step m the wrong direction, and one tending to further reduce the eliiciency ot the nation. In addressing a gathering of agriculturists the other day, Air Lloyd George stressed the importance of increasing the food supplies of the British nation to such an extent as to render it absolutely independent of America, and to thus tree the surplus supplies Horn that country for their Allies, who are compelled to rely upon outside sources lor a by no means inconsiderable proportion ol their foodstulls. That the coining year will witness a great world shortage of foodstulls appears inevitable. 'J lie world’s stock ol food (the British Prime Minister tolls ns) is the smallest for years, and both France and Italy arc now largely dependent upon the outside markets lor their supplies. Hence, just as Mr Lloyd George .is urging the English fanners to improve upon their very remarkable achievement of adding 700,000 acres to the area under cultivation this year, so we should be bending all our spare onergie i towards increasing our supply ol foodstuffs. And, to that end, a much larger supply ot labour is required than is really It would bo a mistake, t here tore, for the Government to proceed with public works that would have the effect of depleting labour from the land. That said and admitted, however, we canot -help feeling that the altitude adopted by the Government towards the development of hydro-electric power is a mistaken one. In replying on the Public Works debate in the House on Friday, the Hon. AV. Eraser, Minister ol Public AVorks, said that he could not see his way to allow any water power concessions to go to private companies. The Christchurch scheme was, lie said, a great success, and the Government was pledged, as soon as possible, to develop hydro-elec-tric power schemes for Auckland, AVellington, and other parts of the .Dominion. It is a good many years now since these hydro-electric schemes were first talked of, and since the late Mr Seddon laid down the principle that no water power rights should be placed in the hands of private individuals. A’et the Lake Coleridge scheme is the only one the Government has put in hand and completed; and, if other schemes are carried out in the leisurely fashion that is adopted in the construction of our railways, another century may clapsbefore the Government programme is completed.

In two instances at least the Government has delegated its powers, under proper safeguards, to other authorities —in the one case to the AYaihi Gold Alining Company, which has. harnessed the Horn flora Falls, m the AVaikato; and , in the other, to I ho AVlmngarei

Borough Council, which, in turn, delegated its rights, to the Dominion Ce meat Company, which has similarly hai nosed the Northern Wairoa Falls, and is supplying both electric light and power to the people of Whangarei, and the power for tlie Dominion Cement Company works as well. In both the cases noted, the Government has resrvod the right to resume its delegated rights and to take over the generating stations, etc. And, since it is manifestly impossible lor the Government to carry out all its programme at once, there is no good reason why private companies that are prepared to help in tlie . development or hydro-electric power schemes should not be allowed to assist; always, of course, under proper safeguards. Mr Fraser appears to be optimistic enough concerning the possibdities of the department over which lie presides. He promises to have all the reports and plans ready so that, when the war is over, and tlie men return from tlie front, there will be ro lack of employment for them. The Mangaliao river scheme has possibilities not only for Wellington but tor ourselves. Mr Parry, the chief electrical engineer of the Public Works Department, has reported that, at a point 61 miles north of Wellington, it is possible to obtain this supply of waterpower, and that, by a tunnel coming out in the vicinity of the Shannon railway station, Palmerston North and district, Shannon and Wanganui can be supplied, besides Wellington city. The Mangahao river scheme would supply 25,GU0 horse-power, as against the 10,000 horse-power of Lake Coleridgd. it would suffice for the electrification of the railway between Palmerston and Wellington, and even further afield. Nearer Wellington there is, on the Wai-j-arapa lino, the Hutt river running side by side with the railway, with any amount of power running to waste ; and at Wanganui, in the magnificent river which roaches away up and beyond i'aumarunui, there is also unlimited power available. Is it necessary, is it even wise to delay the development of such enormous sources of cheap power indefinitely Tho Government may have a fixed policy, forbidding the mixing tip of private interests in the development of such public utilities; but it unfortunately suffers from the Government stroke, as is apparent in its policy of railway construction, and notably in connection with the building of such lines as the Ohakune-Ractihi and the Wainku branch railways, which any docent railway contractor would have constructed inside of twelve months, had the works been entrusted to him. One of the most objectionable features ot public works construction under the methods introduced by the SedclonWard Governments, and perpetuated by the Ward and Massey Governments, is tho co-operative and day labour works policy, which is as much a “goslow” movement as anything yet invented on the water front or in Rod Fed. circles. The vigorous development of our public utilities, after the war, should he tlie direct aim and purpose of the Government, and, if private companies, or individuals, arc in a position to assist in that direction, and are willing to do so, they hould be welcomed.' rather than discouraged.