HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

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

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

i NEW MINISTER'S POLICY

STAGNATION MUST CEASE.

NORTH ISLAND PROPOSALS.'

[BI TB.EORAPH.-OWN COERESPONOENt.]'

WELLINGTON. Friday. Replying to a deputation regarding the Mangahao power scheme the Minister for Public Works, the Hon, J. G. Coates said he bad undertaken new duties and would be satisfied to be judged by result* He realised that the Government must be dependent upon its engineers in dealing with such matters as Hydro-electric power Mr. L. Birks was now head of the hydroelectric branch of the Public Works De partment, and he was building up th« staff to the required strength. This was not a simple matter, but if the Depart, ment put life and vim into the works in hand and got the engineers interested, sal- ' aries would not bo the prime consideration. It had be<>n necessary during the war to allow engineers to undertake milltary duties, and he was prepared 0 ad. Mit that during the war a certain amount of stagnation had taken place.

" My job and the job of the Government must be to get the wheels of energy and industry moving again," said .Mr Coates. "That is not an easy matter as ypu know, but the task is quite a possible one. I have no doubt that we shall get progress. I have every confidence, in my engineers, and I feel sure that when thev know what the Government w;nts, and after we get to understand one another thoroughly, they will work together and get the job done." The Minister agreed that hydroelectric power was essential to the development of New Zealand industries. The policy of the Government was to develop the power, but there were many .difficulties in the way. He believed that Ah * difficulty regarding labour would disappear >. soon. The position was improving, and • * the Department in the, meantime would try to get materials together and be prepared! to get along with the job in, the right way. He did not believe in trying merely to make a show. The engineers in charge of power development must have proper equipment for the work. He himself had a duty to assist in guarding the people's money. The necessary purchases of machinery, involving a very heavy ependiture, must be made in the best markets i.ftcr full information had been secured. The Government had commited itself definitely to finding the money for the power schemes, and he felt that be had a free hand to go ahead with th? » wort The Mangahao installation, he con tinned, would not provide all the p&w that the Wellington district needed. I'lia'. fact should be -understood. Mr. Parry's scheme, which had been adopted by (hi Government, provid«l for linking Tip thrw sources of power in the North Island. namely. Maorgahao, Waikaremoana, anil Arapuni, and the complete scheme was re quired. He had discussed this matte: fully with the engineers of the Depart ment, and he could say that as soon as tin plans and specifications had been prepared a start would be made; with tin Walkaremoara scheme. The plans wonH be prepared directly tie Department could spare men to draft them, and then a start would be made with the preliminary work at Waikaremoana. It hi been suggests that the work there should start in September, but if Maori labour could be secured for road contract*, something might be done earlier. A considerable amount of preliminary work would be required. It war desirable that the schemes should be completed as nearly simultaneously as possible, bmV necessarily there would be intervals. The Aranuiu site had not yet been definitely fixed, since there was still doubt about the suitability of the ground for dam construction.