KARAPIRO SCHEME

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25172, 9 April 1945, Page 4

KARAPIRO SCHEME

MANPOWER PRIORITY

MINISTER'S DECISION (P A.) WELLINGTON. "Sunday "The need for speeding to, completion the Karapiro hydro-electric scheme so that the whole of the North Island will gain the benefit has always been regarded as of first importance in the Government's plans for the development or hydro-electric power," said the Minister of Works, Mr Semple, yesterday "The progress and expansion which has been made in the utilisation of electric power for industrial and domestic purposes definitely links us to an e ectric economy, and the supply of e ectricity in adequate quantity necessarily must precede further expansion in mdustrv or the erection of electricallyserviced homes to the extent that we plan for. f "For some time past, on account or the acute shortage of houses, home building has been second only in priority to defence construction. With the tapering-off of defence construction housing has assumed a higher priority than it had previously, but the stage has now been reached where the development of hydro-electric power niust supersede housing in priority rating, lo do all that lies within mv power to ensure the completion of the Karapiro scheme at the earliest possible date—which depends on the job being fully and properly manned—l have decided that in our constructional programme this job shall take priority second only to jobs of the utmost in the balance of the defence construction programme. . „ "Some 70 tradesmen of various callings, but principally carpenters, in addition to approximately 100 labourers, are required to man the job to the extent desired and it will doubtless be necessary for the manpower authorities to direct men to the job from elsewhere. Naturally, this may cause inconvenience. perhaps embarrassment, to some employers and employees, but that is inevitable under present conditions and forbearance must be exercised, more especially so as this action becomes necessary in the interests of the nation as a whole." i ]