HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

Nelson Evening Mail, 18 October 1916, Page 3

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

PROPOSALS FOR WELLINGTON". •Tit was reported lost week that local bodies and) industrial concerns in the Wairarapa were proposing to hold,' a conference next month.' to discuss with the Chief Government Electrical Engineer, Mir Parry, an electrical' scheme for the •whole district. Since sucH a scheme, if 'brought into operation l , would 'be of (great importance ,to Wellington, the Mayor (Mr J. P". Luke) was asked by a Post reported l to-day if any steps had 'been taken in. the matter by the City Council. The Mayor stated that some time ago t'he City Engineer and 1 Tramways General Manager . (Mr W. H. Morton) conferred' with the Tramways Committee with respect to the desirability of obtaining information as soon as possible concerning the intentions of it-he Government a.s regards the hydro electric power question. At that time the matter was lone strictly within t'he scope of the executive authority of the Public Works Department. Subsequently _ the council comimiunicated with the Minister for Public Works (Hon-. W. ITra-ser) asking him to receive a deputation, so that h>a m£pht §:ve some intimation.' to the council of the scope of a hydro-electric scheme for the southern part of the North Islanu. The ter replied' saying that, as soon as he -had completed the business of\a visit that he was paying to several -districts in the Dominion, he would receive a deputation. The Mayor last week had a further communication from, the Minister to the effect that he hoped within a few days ,to accede to the council's request. "The council," said the Mayor, "feels that it is necessary to obtain from the 'Minister a statement which will no doubt emibody the effect of a preliminary report from the engineer."