£4000 FOR REPORT ON WAITAKI SCHEME

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 179, 30 July 1931, Page 5

£4OOO FOR REPORT ON WAITAKI SCHEME

PROFESSOR HORNELL WAS NOT ENGAGED. (Special to the “Star.”) WELLINGTON, July 29. The sum of £-1000 was the fee requested by Professor Ilornell for a special report on the Waitaki hydroelectric scheme. Ilis services were not engaged. These facts were disclosed in the House when the Hon W. B. Taverner, Minister of Public Works, was replying to criticism by Mr Semple (Labour, Wellington East). Mr Semple said the House was entitled to know the contents of any report Professor Hornell had submitted regarding Waitaki, and to know whether confidence had been expressed in the scheme. He had been informed that Professor Hornell had been sent to \\ aitaki to inspect the works and, on his return to Christchurch, had told the Minister that he would be prepared to write a report if he were treated as liberallv as he had been regarding Arapuni. In other words, he wanted £3OOO or £4OOO before he started to speak. Mr Poison (Independent, Stratford): How liberally was he treated? “ Collection of 4 Mugs.’ ” Mr Semple: I have been informed he received £4OOO for a report on Arapuni that an ordinary engineer in New Zealand could have prepared in half an hour. I think he went away with a little more than the £4OOO, taking into account several interviews and preliminary examinations of other schemes. I am satisfied that the professor, when he said good-bye to New Zealand, came to the conclusion that he had struck the greatest collection of “ mugs ” he had ever struck in his life. I want to know from the Minister what the professor did say regarding Waitaki. The Hon \Y. B. Taverner stated in reply that on two occasions he had informed the House that he made no arrangements with Professor Hornell to prepare a report on the Waitaki scheme. The professor visited the works early in October with the Chief Engineer and the Government Geologist. and on his return to Wellington discussed with the speaker certain aspects of the work. lle made suggestions of a mors or less minor character relating to the cut-off wall and drainage system and other technical matters. Professor Hornell was prepared to make a report on Waitaki for a similar fee to that which was paid him in respect to Arapuni, but in addition he made certain stipulations which were not acceptable to the Government. He was not invited to report on Waitaki, though he did make I an inspection. S fs? ple - He " ant pavment ? lhe Minister: He wanted £4OOO for i reporting on Waitaki, but he vas not engaged.