MANGAHAO

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160812, 20 November 1920, Page 6

MANGAHAO

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER LEAGUE,

THE ANNUAL MEETING

In the course of the annual report of the Mangahao Hydro-Electric Power, League, submitted to the meeting in' Palmerston North on Wednesday, it was stated that the critical state of the coal supplies in the Dominion had provided a much-needed lesson on the vital importance of the developement of the water powers of the Dominion, There could be no doubt that had a more farsighted policy with regard to-hydro-elec-trie power been pursued, in past years the present disorganised state of social and industrial life in the Dominion due to the shortage of coal supplies would have been largely avoided. Congratulations were, extended to the Minister of Public Works on the keen interest he had taken in the matter. During the past year the committee had paid visits to the works at Mangahao, and a visit to the works by Parliamentary representatives of the districts interested had also been arrang* ed by the League in conjunction with the Central Progress League, The preliminary work of forming Power Boards to arrange for reticulation was now being taken up by the local bodies concerned. Pleasure' was expressed at the Government’s decision to proceed immediately with the development of the power at Waikaremoana, the report J stating that this was essential to the needs of this district, and would obviate the necessity for smaller local schemes. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follow; President, Mr H. E. Crahb (Palmerston North); executive committee, Messrs J. C. Cooper (Masterton), A. Harris (Wanganui), T. R. Hodder and J. A. Nash, M.P. ( Palmerston North), J. P. Lnke, M.P.,- and H. Mainland (Wellington), W. B. Matheson (Eketahuna), A. Monk (Horowhenua), F. C. Wilson (Marten), F. Townsend (Miramar), and G. I. Anderson( Daansvirke). On the motion of Mr Crabb, seconded by Mr Harris, it was decided; That this League notes with surprise that no provision has been made for the Wanganui district in the provisional distribution of poWer from Mangahao. It desires te respectfully pointy out that Mr Parry’s report of 19th February, 1917, stated Mangahao was to serve the district south of Wanganui and Taihape, and that' the Minister, Sir W. Fraser, in correspondence, admitted the claims of Wanganui for a pro rata share. We therefore urge the Minister to include Wanganui in tne provisional distribution according to recommendation of Mr Parry aa agreed to by Sir W. Fraser. This resolution to he entrusted to the president to interview the Minister on the matter, together with representatives of 'Wanganui.

WANGANUPS CLAIMS. Prior to the introduction of the above motion, Mr A. Harris, the Wanganui representative said, that, at the very inception of the league in 1917 he had been led to underhand that his district would be included. The Minister' at that time. Sir William Eraser, had promised a pro rata share and tha engineer, Mr Parry, had also included Wanganui in the district to he served. The speaker stated that he was sure the j resent Minister would honour the premises of his predecessor if these tacts were brought under his notice. As for tlie Waikaremoaua scheme it would probably not be finished until after the Mangahao one had been put in order, and in any case, it was 157 miles by the shortest route from Wanganui, and at the rate of £llOO per mile to construct a feeder this was a tremendous disadvantage when compared with Mangahao, which was only 60 or 70 miles distant —less than half the distance between Wanganui and Wadkaremoana. The .speaker mentioned that Wanganui was no further from Mangahao than Wellington is. He asked that the league demonstrate its loyalty and endeavour to advance Wanganui’s claim. The president (Mr E. H. Crabb) said he thought Wanganui had good grounds for complaint and he .would have interviewed the Minister on the subject already, only that he had been waiting for the first move from Wanganui before taking action. In the first place it had been understood that the whole district from Taihape and Wanganui southward was going to participate as a single entity. A later decision a 4 to tlie districts to participate was made by the present Minister at a conference at which neither Wanganui nor. Wairarapa were represented, and, as a result, both were left out. However, Wairarapa pressed their claims and were reinstated, but Wanganui had remained out in the cold. Mr' Crabb stated that be bad spoken to Mr Yeitch, M.P., on the subject and the latter bad been fully seized of the unfairness of it, but said that the Minister had informed him that Mr Parry had never intended Wanganui to be included. “We must support Wanganui,” said Mr Crabb emphatically, “and get them a portion of the power. It is moat unfair that they be left out.” The chairman added that Sir _ William Fraser, when Minister of Public Works, had stated that the distribution would be an equitable one and no district would be allowed to take a greater proportion than another.