REMARKS BY THE'MINISTER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7301, 3 December 1910, Page 1

REMARKS BY THE'MINISTER

PLEASED TO NEGOTIATE. Tho Hon. R. McKenzie (Minister of Public Works) stated that wien ’‘-the, water-power proposals camo down the} member for Hutt was most sceptical;* He understood that Mr Richardson (city engineer) and Mr Holmes (chief engineer of the Public Works Department) ; had gone into the calculations together. Hd disagreed with, the suggestion that , the work should bo done by day labour. It seemed to him that the demand ;for power would soon become so extensive in Wellington that thoMakuri source would have to bo tapped as well as Hutt river. This would increase the certainty of the supply, so that it would pay to keep the steam planfc-:xdlo. The time wouldr also come when a supplementary power would have to bo found, possibly in the Manawntu. The supply from Hutt was as constant as was * possible, otherwise the scheme could only b© reckoned a faillure. He would bo plohsed to negotiate with the Mayor of Wellington on the most friendly terms. If tho city count provide "«C3-1,000 a year revenue for the scheme it would bo a substantial gain. Mr Wilforcl: I consider there is a considerable market at tho Hutt. Tho Minister concurred, adding, in rcplv io Mr Buchanan, that tho possibility. of causing inconvenience * or danger to . Hutt settlers through, the building of tho big embankment .had been carefully considered. There was absolutely no danger.