ARAPUNI.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18158, 24 October 1930, Page 7

ARAPUNI.

THE QUESTION OF OUTLAY. < COMPLETE SPECIFICATIONS FlfcST ADVERSE AMENDMENT LOST. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. An assurance that not a penny piece, would be spent in the renovation of the Arapuni hydro-electric schemq until complete specifications had beerf prepared and - quantities had been taken out in a proper manner was given by the Minister of Public Works, Hon. W. B. Taverner, during a discussion on the Supplementary Estimates in the House of Representatives this .evening. A sum of £120,000 appears on the Estimates in connection with Arapuni. As previously explained £IOO,OOO is provided for carrying on the repair work until the end of the financial year and £20,000 is for use in connection with the installation of the fourth unit. Claiming that work should not be started until a reasonable guarantee were given that the money spent would save, the scheme, Mr J. S. Fletcher (Independent—Grey Lynn) moved a reduction of the vote by £l. w The Leader of the Labour Party, Mr H. E. Holland, said the .severest critic would not suggest the oomplete abandonment of Arapuni. There had, to be an attempt to save the money sunk in the undertaking. Mr Taverner said that if Mr Fletcher’s amendment were carried, it could only be interpreted by the Government that in the opinion of the House Arapuni should be abandoned. Personally he would sooner shoulder the job of repairing Arapuni at a comparatively reasonable cost than of abandoning ££,500,000 of the people’s money. Professor Hornell had said the site was quite all right.

Huntly Plant. Referring to a question asked about a standby plant at Huntly, Mr Taverner said when the shortage of power occurred on June 7 a hurried examination was made, and it was expected . there would be a greater shortage of power than had proved to. be the case. The power supply had been carried on by the Auckland Power Board and by the Waikato area supply with very litt-le restriction. The position, to-day was that 500 kw. of power were not required, afid the Auckland board was prepared to sell back approximately that amount to the Government, but the Government was able to get along without it. Then by April 1 it was expected the Auckland Power Board would have,a capacity of: 41,000 kw. by the installation of a new 15,000 kw. unit. The position then was quite secure for the time being. Another factor was the time to recondition Arapuni. If it had been found that Arapuni had to be abandoned ideas in regard to a standby plant would have had to be remodelled and larger provision made. The idea of a standby plant at Huntly had not been abandoned, and if required it would be gone on with, but it now appeared that it was not urgent. The Minister said he had nothing to say regarding a question whether Arapuni would be developed to its full capacity of eight, units of 15,000 kw. each. • That had not. yet been decided, but the present objective was to get the three generators info" operation. At the earliest possible date consistent with reasonable safety thb water would gradually be turned into the turbines and repairs proceeded with.

Mr Fletcher’s amendment to reduce the vote was defeated on. the voices.