HYDRO-ELECTRIC SCHEMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17483, 29 May 1920, Page 6

HYDRO-ELECTRIC SCHEMES.

The first detailed reference by the new Minister for Public Works to water power development can hardly fail to make a favourable . impression. Mr. Coates is bo obviously impressed with the necessity of completing the North Island scheme as quickly as possible that it will be. strange if any lack of administrative energy delays the work.. It can hardly be doubted that if the power stations were constructed in the fashion which has become typical of public works in New Zealand millions of pounds would be sunk unproductively in tinfinished projects for many years. Mr. Coates' apparent anxiety to prevent this will be welcomed by all. It is a little disturbing* however, to find the Minister promising to start the Waikaremoana scheme at an early date. If he can do this, and can continue it without prejudice to the Arapuni and Mangahao projects, well and good, because Waikaremoana is an integral part of the proposed North' Island system of power stations. But unless Mr. Ceates is satisfied he can do this he should leave Waikaremoana where it was placed by Mr. Parry, a bad third. Mr. Parry admitted no doubt at all as to the order of development. In his interim report of 1917 he said: "Waikaremoana should be" deferred for the present. The development of this source should, to my mind, be made dependent upon the construction of the NapierGisbome railway. The Auckland and Wellington schemes should proceed simultaneously.'' The following year Mr. Parry developed this argument by remarking: "The worst feature of the Waikaremoana scheme is the distance that has to be traversed through difficult country before getting any load. On the basis of this report— one-fifth horse-power per inhabitant of present population —there is only a load of 9191 horsepower that is nearer to Waikaremoana than to either of the other schemes." Expert opinion of this kind is not lightly to be thrown aside, and Mr. Coates owes it to the public to say whether he is jettisoning it on the advice of the present engineer or as the result of political pressure brought to bear on the Cabinet. Dissipation of effort has been the curse of railway construction; it may easily retard hydro-electric developments. Unless Mr. Coates can give an assurance that neither Arapuni nor Mangahao will be delayed by lack of labour or materials through the undertaking of a third venture he should reconsider his decision.