HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1710, 10 January 1920, Page 3

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

the mAngailvo .scheme.

REPORT OF VIGILANCE COMM ITT FE The report: of tin- Vigilance Comrrytteo concerning the work in connection with the Manga liao scheme during the. past year if as follows:—In reviewing the progress made by the Public Works Department in carrying out the works as planned by Mr Parry, at Mangahao during the last 12 months, your committee is pleased to note that progress has been made, but regrets it should Have to call the League’s attention to the obstacles and delays caused |>y a defective system. •■»•••

During the twelve months now ended, the scheme has been finally adopted and,'authorised by Parliament, and the whole of the money necessary for carrying the yrorfc to completion lias been authorised, so obviating tiiie possibility of further delays from this reason.

The w hole of the plans are now, wo believe, complete, 21 miles of the new road iron; Tokomam stream tortile Mangahao gorge has been formed and metalled, and the balance of the road, some two miles, is in process of formation. The work of improving ihe Tokomarn load from the power house site to the Tokomarn dam site is also in hand and will soon be completed. Boilers for tins temporary steam , plant. \

provide power necessary for piercing ilv.l tunnels, etc., are on the ground, and the rest of (ho plant is how being shipped from England. The machinery for the sawmill to cut limber lor the necessary accommodation houses, etc., is now, after several moot life’ delay, in process of being shipped. When this finally icaches the mill site, ’which is cleared and ready for its erection, and is in operation, it will allow of the provision of proper accommodation for the workers, and will render it easier to. procure the labour necessary for the carrying on of the work. This mailer should have been foreseen and provided tor mouths previously.

It will be evident- to every commercial man that the above record of work accomplished is a very meagre one. consider big the size and importance of the works, and the extreme economic urgency thorn. There is no doubt that, considering the present state cf the coal problem and the future prospects of the same, the provision of hydro-electric power is, apart from its economic benefit, the most pressing need of the .Dominion. The truth of tin’s is admitted by the vast majority of the people, ’but does not seem to have dawned on the Public Work's Department. The most striking needs for improvement; as your com-initten-sees it, are as follows:— »

Labour. —The rates paid for work done must, be increased. Up to the present this lias been computed at 12s per day, a totally wage considering the present high cost of living and that the work' is not of a permanent nature, as, in mountain work such as tin’s, at least 10 to 15 per cent, must bo allowed for broken time caused by laid weather, etc. The rate is also an uneconomic’ one, as it loads to inferior labour power being employed, causing delay, and friction. Several instances have been brought under our notice of men leaving Owing to insnUiciont wage, and bad accommodation. This, also helps to explain the fact that not more than 60 men have ever been employed on the works, despite the need for energy in'pushing on. The labour is available if the remuneration is .sufficient and the rate should be raised to 14s.

Organisation. This seems to be faulty. At. present there seems no definite responsibility for the whole .scheme. It is generally' understood that the electrioa] department of the Public Works is responsible for the carrying out of the scheme, but this is not so. Apparently their responsibility begins and ends with the erection of the electrical machinery required. This divided responsibility goes to bear out tbo soundness of your former contention, that the electrical works of the Dominion are now* so large and important that they should be placed under a separate hoard, acting under Dig Minister, with undivided responsibility for the constructing and operating of all electrical schemes. To sum up. your committee considers the fault of the slownessiof the progress lies not at the works themselves , nor with the technical staff, so much as with the heads of the departments a.ud the system in vogue in the department. We wish to do justice to the excellent work done by the retiring Minister for Public Works, the Hon. Sir W. Fraser, but we think it will he admitted that a young vigorous man is needed for that position, one with a vision- to grasp (he greatness of his opportunity and with the energy id reorganise his department and remove vexatious red tape regulations and methods that hamper his officers and tend to discourage' enterprise and initiative in them. A “big” man is wanted for the enormous mass of constructive work that is now years overdue. We trust the Premier in his choice will he able to (ill the position suitably. .►