MINISTERIAL VISIT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23114, 13 February 1937, Page 8

MINISTERIAL VISIT

MR SEMPLE AT GORE HEARING OF DEPUTATIONS In the course of his tour of Otago and Southland, the Minister of Public Works (Mr R. Semple) received a number of deputations at Gore yesterday morning. The greater part of the Minister's time was occupied in hearing representations from the Gore Borough Council with respect to local questions, while he was also approached by settlers of the district and by other persons desiring to bring before him matters affecting the departments which he controls. NEW BRIDGE REQUIRED

The Mayor (Mr A. T. Newman) drew the Minister's attention to the necessity for a new bridge over the Mataura River at Gore. Repairs at least would be needed in the very near future, he said, and the council was anxious that the bridge should be placed on the list, of urgent works. The Minister stated that plans were at present being prepared for a new bridge, and when the department began to prepare plans it meant that something was going to be done. SUPPLY OF POWER A deputation of settlers from the Haldane and Slope Point districts approached the Minister with a request for the extension of the electric power supply to that area. lne houses had been wired some years ago, but owing to difficulties with the Southland Electric Power Board the power had never been made available. Eleven miles of line were required, and the district would guarantee a minimum of £I7U o y6 Mr L. B. Hutton, chief engineer t'« the Southland Electrical Supply Authority, said that the board would have been faced with an expenditure of about £SOOO to connect up the district, whereas the only revenue in sight amounted to £6O or £ fll. '•I am anxious to make power available to settlers in the back country districts," said Mr Semple. "I will look into this matter, and i we can find the money you will be connected up with the power supply MINING REQUIREMENTS

Representatives of mining interests in Southland waited on the Minister with a request for a cheaper night rate for electricity used in mining operations. The deputation consisted of Messrs R. T. Stewart, H. Smith and H. A. Price. Mr Stewart said that his company was pumping water at Waikaka for use in hydraulic mining, and was absorbing electricity at a cost of over £2OO a month. The present charge wf.s Id a unit, and the deputation desired to know whether a reduction could be made for electricity used during the night. If that could be done more power would be used. Mr L. B. Hutton said the difficulty was that there was a shortage of power in Southland at the present time. The Minister, in his reply, emphasised the necessity for expednv ing the work at present in hand or connecting Southland with the Waitaki power scheme. The Government wished to encourage industry and the Waitaki power would be made available to Southland as soon as possible. In the meantime, every effort would be made to supply current to as great an extent as was* possible.