WORK AT ARAPUNI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20595, 20 June 1930, Page 12

WORK AT ARAPUNI.

r ALL TUNNELLING STOPPED.

QUESTION OF SAFETY*

HOPES FOR RESUMPTION.

hush Policy continues.

'All the tunnelling work at Arapnni ,was stopped yesterday. In view of the ban placed upon tho issue of statements by officials, it is difficult to ascertain tho reason for tho cessation of operations. The chief engineer of the Public Works Department, Mr. F. W. Furkert, when approached in Wellington last evening stated that in company with other officials of tho department he was bound to silenco on tho question by tho Minister of Public Works, Hon. W. B. Taverner. It is belioved that, considering the work unsafe, some of tho men made representations to tho Public Works Department, and that orders were sent to Arapuni that tunnelling work was to stop. At any rate, it is clear that the men have not actually refused to continue the work. It is possible that the matter will bo adjusted and that operations will bo P Resumed in two or three days. REQUEST FOR INSPECTOR. DEPUTATION TO MINISTER « £DY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Thursday. Tho Minister of Lands, tho Hon. E. !A. Ransom, to-day told a deputation from tho New Zealand Workers' Union that ho would refer to tho Primo Minister und the Minister of Public Works its request that tho Government should ap* point an inspector at >Arapuni from tho ranks of the men to safeguard the interests of the men engaged on tho job. Tho deputation stressed the dangerous nature of the work, and the Minister said it' was not a question of expense, but of dual control. He read a telegram from the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. W. B. Taverner, stating that bo had given instructions that Mr. Robert Semple was to be given every facility for making an inspection of the work at Arapuni. EXPERT INQUIRY URGED. FREEDOM IN INVESTIGATION* An independent investigation by overBeas experts was a suggestion which was favourably entertained by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce Council at its meeting yesterday, when considering the present position relating to tho Government hydro-electric plant at Arapuni. Discussion arose out of a letter from the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce drawing attention to the seriousness of the position, and asking the Auckland Chamber's jsupport in its suggestion that a commission should be appointed to inquire into the expenditure which had been made. The letter suggested that a Judge of the Supreme Court be asked to preside and that a full investigation should be made-into the whole of the scheme and its development, with reference to the cxponse in which tho country had already been involved. The chairman, Mr. Malcolm Stewart, •aid he thought tbe suggestion of tho Hamilton Chamber was too much in tho nature of an inquest to be of any practical/value. What was needel was an outsido investigation by experts in order to define any possible means of rectifying the position. There was a great deal of uncertainty about Arapuni, and tho Government did not appear to have much definite information about it. Mr, A. G. Lunn said it would be better to invite experts from overseas to give a candid report on the situation. Owing to the unfortunate secrecy which had been imposed by the Minister of Public Works, tho Hon. W. B. Taverner, regarding the actual state of affairs at Arapuni, considerable alarm had been -created in the Waikato area. The Government would have to consider the payment of a sura to obtain such a commission of inquiry, but there would be no doubt that the result would justify tho expense: Mr. J. Park said it was necessaiy that the investigation should be of an independent nature. The experts should be given every authority to make inquiries according to their pwn methods, and should be unfettered in tho expression of their opinions, On the motion of Mr. Stewart, it was decided to recommend the Government to invito the best overseas expert opinion to investigate and report regarding the Arapuni situation, so that the Auckland Province might bo assured of a permanent and reliable source of electrical supply. POWER AT TAURANGA. PLANT AT FULL CAPACITY. fBY/ TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TAURANGA, Thursday. The borough engineer, Mr. C. W. Boak, in a report presented to the Borough Council last evening slated that as a result of the position at Arapuni the council's generating plant was again forced to the full capacity. In. tho absenco of official information it could bo assumed that tho demand would continue for some considerable tinrn. had arranged with the district electrical engineer at Hamilton to supply extra power, over and abovo the contract of 16,000 units a day at a unit. Tho council authorised tho engineer to arrange for a fresh contract with the department