“Fantastic, Absurd”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 497, 29 October 1928, Page 13

“Fantastic, Absurd”

ARAPUNI DANGER STORY Mr. Furkert’s Reassurance ADDRESS TO COMMERCE PARTY (SUN'S Special Reporter.) COMMERCE TRAIN, Taneatua. CRITICS of the Arapuni hydro-electric scheme received a rebuke yesterday from Mr. F. W. Furkert, engineer-in-chief of the Public Works. After members of the Chamber of Commerce train party had inspected the whole plant, he addressed them on the work, and spoke of the Government’s power policy.

Mr. Furkert said if it were a private enterprise and anything went wrong nothing was said; but if the Government had charge of the enterprise sarcastic remarks were made. Nothing was said if the Government enterprise was a success. Referring to the visit of the commercial men, he remarked that people who went around the country with their eyes shut were of no use. He had heard statements made that if Arapuni had been undertaken by business men it would have been more successful. Mr. Furkert explained that when the Government embarked on any big hydro-electric enterprise it did so in a very businesslike way. Each proposition was approached from every possible angle. Speaking of the gigantic undertaking at Arapuni, he said: ‘‘l will ask any man here how the ordinary routine could have been followed. The Government cannot always look at the immediate question of £ s d.” He said a little later on: “It must have a wider view and look to future bene-