THE ARAPUNI DAM.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17585, 14 December 1928, Page 8

THE ARAPUNI DAM.

MR YOUNG'S OPINION.

WAIKATO BODIES PERTURBED. Commenting to-day upon criticism that appeared in a northern paper regarding a question in the House by Mr J. A. Young concerning the safety of the dam at Arapuni, Mr Young slated that he was perfectly satisfied every preliminary precaution it was possible for human skill and ingenuity to take had been taken, including not only engineering tests but also scientific and geological tests, lie had asked the question in view of further recent allegations, which had caused some of the public bodies in the Waikato to be perturbed and desirous of having further assurances than those which had been made by the Public Works authorities that everything was all right. Mr Young said he had simply asked for a further authoritative statement to be made, in obedience lo a request from his constituency, as represented by a formal resolution passed by the Hamilton Borough Council. Since the published statement of Mr Holmes, and the reply thereto by the Engineer-in-Chicf of the Public Works Department, further disquieting allegations had been made —he understood by a Christchurch engineer—in regard to the stability of the rock foundations of Arapuni, and it was in regard to these that he had directed his question to the Hon. Minister of Public Works.

A ROYAL COMMISSION? It has been suggested that a Royal Commission might be set up to inquire into the allegations concerning the safety of the Arapuni dam. In reply to a question the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. E. A. Ransom) stated that he was having inquiries made with a view to deciding later whether a public inquiry would u* ttgeeasaot.