THE DOMINION WATER POWER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2767, 23 March 1910, Page 5

THE DOMINION WATER POWER.

TO BE CONTROLLED BY THE GOVERNMENT. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, March 22. The Prime Minister announced tonight that the Government h a d decided to control and develop the water poAver resources throughout New Zealand, and for that purpose to ask Parliament’s authority to expend up to £500,000 annually. This is to enable water power to be used for public as well as private purposes in different parts of the country. Sir Joseph Ward states that- the present method of leasing power does not appear to have worked at all satisfactorily, considerable difficulties having been experienced in assenting to the requests of applicants for poAver. It is also evident that, under the leasing system, very much beaA'ier charges Avould be made to users of power by private undertakings than would be imposed by the State. Whatthe country avould get if it leased its water poAA-er Avould run into £1 per 1000 horse p-OAver per annum, Avhile those who are endeavoring to obtain the option propose to charge as high as £lO to private users, so that the matter has been very troublesome. After carefully and fully considering it, the Government has decided to control the po. AA'er itself, and to expend annually up to the sum mentioned upon its development, thus enabling users to obtain, power at a rate A-ery much iesg than it could be obtained from private undertakings. The GoA-ernment has decided to extend the electrical generating plant at Okere Falls, ctorua. The supply "wires to Rotorua are to be duplicated.