HYDRO-ELECTRIC SUPPLY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10137, 27 November 1918, Page 8

HYDRO-ELECTRIC SUPPLY

POWER TO BE MADE AVAILABLE.

The success of the Lake Coleridge hydro-electric scheme has been sufficiently demonstrated to enable the country to recognise that we are justified in utilising to the fullest possible extent the enormous forces that our waterpowers possess, and which are at present running to waste. It is therefore proposed that without any avoidable delay this great power should be made available in various parts of the Dominion. £150,000 will be provided this year to enable a start to bo made in the Wellington and Auckland provinces, and in addition to this the House will be asked to put on the statute book legislation to give local bodies throughout the Dominion the necessary power to establish hydro-electric schemes in their several districts. The bill to be submitted to honourable members will contain full powers for resumption by tho State, end, in addition to providing for the two water-power schemes in the North Island, it will enable* those districts that possess the necessary water forces to have them harnessed np for tho use of the people. I cannot too strongly urge the importance of putting this scheme into operation at the earliest possible date. On a commercial basis it will be a profitable undertaking, and will create many advantages, upon which I need not now dwell in detail.