EXPENSIVE EXPERT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 204, 30 July 1931, Page 7

EXPENSIVE EXPERT.

PROFESSOR HORNELL AND WAITAKI. £4OOO WANTED FOR REPORT. (By Telegraph.—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, July 29. The sum of £4OOO was the fee requested by Professor Hornell for a special report oil the Waitaki hydroelectric scheme, but his services were not engaged. These facts were disclosed in the oHuse of Representatives when Hon. W. B. Taverner, Minister of Public Works, was replying to some criticism by Mr Semple (Labour), Wellington East. Mr Wilkinson (Independent, Egmont) had asked the Minister whether it was intended to publish Professor Hornell’s report, and the reply of the Minister as circulated was that the visiting expert had paid a short visit to Waitaki and had on his return to Wellington personally discussed the scheme with him. It was not considered necessary to incur the expense of a detailed report. Mr Semple said that the House was entitled to know the contents of any report Professor Hornell had submitted regarding Waitaki and to know whether confidence had been expressed in the scheme. He had been informed that tlie Professor had been sent to Waitaki to inspect the works and on liis return to Christchurch had told the Minister he would be prepared to write a report if he were treated as liberally as he had been regarding Arapuni. In other words, he wanted £3OOO or £4OOO before lie started to speak. Mr Poison (Independent, Stratford) : How liberally was he treated? Mr Semple: I have been informed that he received £4OOO for a report on Arapuni that an ordinary engineer in New Zealand could have prepared in lialf-an-liour. I think Tie went away with a little more than the £4OOO, taking into account several interviews and preliminary examinations of other schemes. I want to know from the Minister what the Professor did say regarding Waitaki. Hon. W. B. Tavernor stated in reply that on two occasions he had informed tlie House that he had made no arrangements with Professor Hornell to prepare a report on the Waitaki scheme. Tlie Professor visited the works early in October with the chief engineer and the Government geologist and on his return to AVellington discussed with the speaker certain aspects of the work. He made suggestions of a more or less minor character relating to the cut-off wall and the drainage system and other technical matters. The Professor was prepared to make a report on Waitaki for a similar fee to that which was paid him in respect to Arapuni, but in addition he made certain stipulations which were not acceptable to the Government. He was not invited to report on Waitaki though he did make an inspection. Mr Semple: He did want payment? Tlie Minister: He wanted £4OOO for reporting on Waitaki, but he was not engaged.