LAKE TEKAPO POWER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 243, 14 October 1939, Page 2

LAKE TEKAPO POWER

CABINET APPROVES DEVELOPMENT WORK TO BE BEGUN SOON CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 10. Authority has been given by the Cabinet for the development of the lydro-electric works at Lake Tekap. md work will be begun in a shoit ime. This announcement was made| ast night by the Mnister for Public Forks (the Hon. R. Semple). Hydro-electricity development and rrigation were essential for pr.Oducion, said the Minister. Neithex chemo would be interfered with b> he circumstances of war - - indeeu he scheme might be expedited. No delay was expected with the' iighbank power station, said Mr I temple, 'the station was expected; d be in operation early in 1941, after .ater had been turned on for the lid-Canterbury irrigation scheme Jrders for the necessary plant ha( I een given and accepted, and it was xpected that the turbines ami di:> ribution plant would be available . ,-ithout delay. Details of the Lake Tekapo co;,, truction had not been wonted O’.t, Ir. Semple said, when questioned as I o the number of men who would be| equired for the undertaking. “1 am perfectly convinced tliat, lanterbury's production can be ir,-’ rcased fivefold or eightfold,” said Mr. .emple, in an interview with The Tess, “and that the population can e increased by manv thousands if ie area is irrigated and scientifically ' armed.” Emphasing the value of small holcixgs, the Minister said vast areas of and, which were, in the main unprouctive, had been held in the past. To hose areas, science and industr? hould be applied. "We will probably divert some of be workmen and the mechanism on Lher jobs to works of more produc- i ve quality,” said Mr. Semple, when; baking the point that there would e no "slowing down” on irrigation | nd hydro-electricity undertakings. I