WATER-POWER RESOURCES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2924, 30 March 1910, Page 12

WATER-POWER RESOURCES.

GOVERNMENT TAKES CONTROL. WELLINGTON,"March 22. This Prime Minister announced to-night that the Government had decided to control and develop the water power resources throughout New Zealand, and for that purpose to ask Parliament's, authority to sxpencr up to £500,000 annually. This is to enable water power to be used foa* public as. well as. private purposes. In different parts of the country, stated Sir Joseph Ward, the present method of leasing- water power does not appear to have worked ait all satisfactorily, considerable difficulties having been experienced in assenting to requests of applicants for power. It is also evident that under the leasing system a very much heavier charge would be made to users of power by private undertakings than would be imposed by the State. In one instance what the country would get if it leased its water power would run into £1 a thousand horse-power per annum, while those who are endeavouring to obtain the option propose to charge ashigh as £lO to private users, so that the matter has been very troublesome. After carefully and fully considering it, the Government has decided to control the power itself, and to expend annually up to the sum mentioned upon its development, thus .enabling the users to obtain; power, rate verymuch less than it 'could be*obtained at from private under--takings... The Government has also decided to extend the electrical generating plant at Okere Fails, Rotorua, which is is to be duplicated.