DOES LEVEL OF LAKE TAUPO AFFECT RUAPEHU?

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 October 1946, Page 4

DOES LEVEL OF LAKE TAUPO AFFECT RUAPEHU?

(P.A.) Parliament Bldgs., Oct. 5. In the House of Representatives this afternoon, when the vote in the Estimates for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research was under consideration, Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Opp., Waitomo) referred to the level of Lake Taupo and asked whether it had any effect on the activity of Mt. Ruapehu. He mentioned that when the level of the lake was raised, Ruapehu became active. When the level went down the activity ceased. Ruapehu was again active, and he was told the lake was now rapidly approaching the artificial high level. Should a major disaster occur the responsibility would rest on those who had raised the lake level. The Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, said that if the suggestion were correct, New Zealand would have the greatest tourist attraction in the world, because it would be possible to control Ruapehu’s activity. Excursions could be advertised to watch the mountain play at an appointed time. Mr. Fraser said the department was investigating the possibility of a connection between the level of Lake Taupo and the activity of Ruapehu. So far no relationship has been established. On several occasions in the past century the lake had risen to a level higher than that to which it now had been artificially raised.