USE OF WATER POWER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13874, 7 October 1908, Page 8

USE OF WATER POWER.

FOR PRIVATE ENTERPRISE. T''■;■;'-.\- , .^-".-"-VA-''-'V;i-.i\' :; : :^^"K : ' : r\/:fy?o : 'iM^o!tt [BX TELEGRAPH.—PjRESS association.] ■'■■.■.■■'•-'■."■. '•■'..-:..' : ,'■'■' ■■■ .'■'•■ ■>'-■'.•'■'.'- ■■ir ,: .,'' ■ "-V V' ; Wellington, Tuesday. , , . In the House of Representatives thisafteft noon the Hon. W. Hall- ones moved the ■ ■ second reading of the Public Works Amendment BUI, which ; provides for (wo;! small alteration's in sections 14 and 119 of-' '..; , the principal Act, and which also em l ' , bodies the proposals of .the Government* with regard to the development of water power by private individuals, embodied in the Governor's Speech at the opening of Parliament. Section 1, of clause 4,' pro-, vides as follows:—" (1) Notwithstanding ' anything, contained in part 12 of the prim .: ; cipal Act or in the Post and Telegraph Act, 1908, the Governor may, from time to time, by Order-in-Oonncil, grant to pj person or body corporate (hereinafter; together with the successors or assigns-of that person 'or body corporate,. called. ■ licensee) a licensee to use water from any'' > fall, river, stream, or other source, for the purpose of generating electricity for electric light, mechanical power, or other uses;;/■■•'. and to exercise in'respect of,that purpose"* any of the powers and authorities herein-. ■ H after specified in thai behalf. Various conditions surrounding the granting Of such' licenses are embodied in the Bill. The Minister explained that under th* , existing . law it ; was provided that ihs' Crown reserved all rights in regard'to'tMly-'-K. exploitation of water power for the gene-'; ration of electricity. The Crown did pot possess funds available lor that purpose, and it had therefore been decided to amend the law in the direction of enabling private enterprise- to exploit water power. ■■ T"'-;'"' ::: ' Mr. Massey said the Bill was a very .'important one, embodying a distinct new departure in policy. He objected to so- ■ , important a measure being brought' dawn- r ,' so late ,in the session. - -■ »: ' ; Mr. Gray objected to sub-section 5 of clause 14, providing that licenses in perpetuity may be granted at, the discretion of the Governor, but otherwise applauded, the Bill. The Hon. W. Hall-Jones said the Bill;-' would confer very great benefit upon the public. It was impossible to give 20. 30, or 40 year licenses. The Bill was read a second time on Un- 1 ;, 1 voices. .'■,'■■::.--v :-: v :'"' '-.■■■'■■^■Z\lk^Moi ■■■■■■ - ■