THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS MONDAY, JUNE 23, 1930. NEW FORCES AT ARAPUNI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20597, 23 June 1930, Page 8

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS MONDAY, JUNE 23, 1930. NEW FORCES AT ARAPUNI.

From the moment when, work was started on the Arapuni scheme, tho task became one of a battle against the forces of nature. Those qualified to estimate what was involved knew it, because to struggle against these forces is the daily round of the construction engineer engaged in such enterprises. What could not have been foreseen with similar certainty was that Arapuni would become the battleground of other forces which have been showing themselves very plainly in the past few days—politics, and something which appears suspiciously like intrigue. The opportunity for this was made when the Minister of Public Works took the now notorious step of sealing the lips of all those who could give reliable information at the scene of operations. How comprehensive the order must have been, and how literally it has been interpreted, is shown by the experiences of a Herald representative, as published to-day. This must be taken as typical of what would happen any other inquirer seeking information in what would usually be considered a legitimate way. The most startling rumours become current. When they are referred to officials for verification or denial, the only result is a point-blank refusal to take either course. The officials cannot be blamed. They personally have nothing to gain and everything to lose by disobeying orders, therefore they abide by the letter of tho law. In fact, the technical experts and other workers at Arapuni are rather entitled to sympathy at present. It must be difficult, as will be developed presently, to know where they stand, or who is in authority over them. The position as a whole would contain many of the elements of a farce-comedy if the final issues involved wero not far too serious to be considered in that light. Over a million pounds of public money, and Auckland's power supply, are not proper subjects to be the sport of irresponsibility. What happened over the exploration tunnel surely has no precedent on any public undertaking in the history of New Zealand. A complaint that the work was dangerous, that men's live 3 were in peril, was made by a labour organisation in Wellington. Work was stopped. Men who had been engaged on it immediately made a public statement that they had been in no danger, had never been asked to work in any unsafe place, h&d made no complaint, and had not authorised anybody to protest on their behalf. Simultaneously the Minister of Public Works said the published statement that tunnelling had ceased was the first he knew of it Three private members of the House of Representatives—they happened to be Labour members, but it would have been equally farcical had they been United, Reform or Independent—arrived on the scene, inspected the whole works as with authority, one of them pronounced the tunnel safe. Work on it is about to be resumed. These being the circumstances, it is imperative to ask again, as ha 3 been asked before, who gave orders for tunnelling work to cease? Another question has now arisen, who, unless it was Mr. Scruple, gave orders for it to be resumed % And if it was Mr. Semple, still another question, by what new arrangement of political forces has he reached this position of authority 1 It becomes difficult to know from whom engineers and foremen now take their instructions—except, of course, the order for silence, which came from the Minister. The position became worse when, fresh from his special tour of the position. Mr. Semple made public a statement in the -Waikato condemning the Arapuni scheme root and branch, in effect discrediting all the engineers and geologists who had explored the country before work was started, and incidentally giving the plain hint that there was party feeling in the background. For Mr. Semple said "had the Reform' Party wanted to experiment in hydro-electricity" there were other sites on the Waikato for development work. The conjunction of those words "Reform Party" and "hydro-electricity" should not be forgotten. It will be interesting to watch for the next development.

There is no use trying to pretend that all is well at Arapuni, because enough was learned before the ban of silence fell to show there were difficulties, with probable expense of magnitude ahead. The Government seems to be acting as though nothing had happened there. The Auckland Power Board, unable to obtain satisfactory assurances about the future, proposes to make provision itself to meet the needs of its consumers. Meanwhile, not only are rumours gaining circulation, and possibly credence, but a case against Arapuni is quite evidently being constructed. It is necessary to disclose a little more of what Mr. Semple said when interviewed in tho Waikato. After having condemned as "stupid" the protective works the engineers recommended to stop erosion, he said there was no real remedy for Arapuni's troubles, because the scheme was in the wrong place. The country should not throw good money after bad. A little later he used the words already quoted about the Reform Party "experimenting" with hydroelectricity. Next came a revival of the old suggestion about steam generation with Waikato coal, which would have "given permanent employment to hundreds of men." It is not easy to say how seriously this is to be taken. It is inconceivable it should be more than an attempt to make a little party capital out of a

situation which is most unfortunate, and, despite those who claim to have predicted it, wholly unforeseen. It is not yet certain that an independent expert inquiry is demanded by the actual engineering and geological position. It may become necessary presently to stop the activities of irresponsible and unqualified "experts" who have become so active lately. It may also be desirable to reveal completely how far forces other than the forces of nature are operating to disturb the public mind about Arapuni.