POLICY OF DRIFT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 441, 5 December 1930, Page 7

POLICY OF DRIFT

UNITED GOVERNMENT FIRM STAND NECESSARY WASTE MUST BE STOPPED [ Per Press Association. J WELLINGTON, Dec. 4. At a meeting of the organisation committee of tho Reform Party it was resolved:— (1) To ask the Party organisation! in the Wellington district to give publicity to Mr Coates’ recent declaration of policy and to use every effort to rouse the public to the danger of allowing the present Government’s policy in regard to unemployment, borrowing, railway construction and defence to continue; (2) To inform Mr Coates that in the opinion of the organisation the Reform Party should not allow itself, by idle talk of fusion, to be associated with or to give the appearance of acquiescence in the fatal policy of drift now being pursued by the Government.

POSITION AT ARAPUNI GOVERNMENT’S INACTION SPEECH BY MR COATES [Per Press Association.J AUCKLAND, Dec. 4. The Leader of the Oppostion, Mr X G. Coates, in a speech at Whangarei to-night, said that he was curious at the apathy of the public concerning the peculiar attitude of the Government to the Arapunl project. The Government’s action or inaction surely called for some very clear declaration on their part, he said. The delay might be tho result of political prejudice, for all must remmeber that certain member! of Parliament, and others too, used the occurrence at A rapuni as a political weapon, and their castigations were levelled against the previous Administration and himself in particular. Since June there had been a minute inquiry into all the phases of the possible causes, both geological and engineering. Professor Hornell’s opinion was sufficient to confound not only the political critics but also some of the engineering critics, and, further, it clearly showed the economic advantages of the scheme.

Mr Coates said that he believed that if the Public Works engineers had been instructed to proceed with the repairs soon after the stoppage Arapuni would long ago have been sending out thousands of kilowatts of energy at less cost to the users than the present charges, and ultimately at a cost incomparable with any other source of supply.

“But apart from my views, surely the political inaction apparently pursued calls for a frank statement hy th© Government.” said Mr Coates. “Why the necessity for a model of tho suggested remedial measure ?s Is thit model now boing prepared in order that Ministers of the Crown may clearly grasp the proposals for repair work. I am sure my honourable friend the Minister of Public Works would himself require no such demonstration. A few blue prints and estimates of quantities and costs would be sufficient for him to decide, and he could ask for more information if he deemed Professor Hornell’s of the Department’s proposals unsatisfactory. The Arapuni stoppage has necessitated the provision of a large amount of capital by the Auckland Electric Power Board to moot immediate requirements. In addition there is the Government’s proposals to instal a steam plant at Huntly. AU this capital expenditure must evenutally go carried by the hydro- electric undertaking at Arapuni.” Mr Coates said that he regretted that the Government did not set up the Royal Commission that he had asked for to go into all matters connected with Arapuni since the scheme was first suggested. That course he had earnestly wished for and had it been followed Arapuni, ho believed, would bo now providing the industries of the Auckland province with energy. “No one can say that there has not been tiresome delay, and it is high timo that tho question was settled,” Mr Coates added. “The Government must bo frank and I am sure the public would be interested to learn the views of the Department.”