No hydro for Lake Wanaka

THE Minister of Public Works may fairly claim credit for having, as he himself expressed it, placed all his cards on the table in respect of the proposals for the generation of electric energy in Otago. The frankness with which he discussed the whole problem in the two or three speeches he made relative to it on Thursday will be appreciated even by those who are disappointed with the judgement that has been formed by him. This judgement is that, as was in fact indicated by Mr Coates a few days ago, the HaweaWanaka scheme must

be postponed in the meantime, partly because of the delay that would occur in bringing it into effective operation, partly because of the expense that would be involved in the development of hydroelectric power from that source, and partly because of the possibilities of the extension of the City Corporation’s enterprise at Waipori Falls. We take it that it is agreed by the expert advisers of the Minister of Public Works that the HaweaWanaka scheme, though it may not be for present purposes the most advantageous, is the best for eventual purposes that can be developed in Otago.