The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, April 1, 1948. BULLER’S DRAWBACK

Grey River Argus, 1 April 1948, Page 4

The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, April 1, 1948. BULLER’S DRAWBACK

JF it is a suitable location for coal briquetting works —and . the availability of the raw material itself in any quantity goes to prove this —then the Buller district has a still better claim to be provided for electrically at least as well as the rest of the country. Hydro generation is essentially a State monopoly, and it is so primarily for the purpose of supplying the whole country. In fact, that object has been attained to such an extent as to render Buller such an exception as to warrant an insistent demand for bringing the area within the ’ South Island hydro system immediately. The facts quoted in | another column by our Bui lei 1 representative must prove convincing for anyone that a link-up has been too long delayed. The Government has already provided the country with 5,748 miles of route electrical lines, in which Buller does, not figure at all, and the same largely applies to the State capital outlay of almost £34,000,000 upon reticulating and servicing almost every other area of the Dominion. There have been. during times of power stringency, advocates of steam generation, and there might be those who would say that a possible risk of a later shortage in this island might be a deterrent from increasing demand. This neither in justice nor in foresight would, be a ground for further postponing the provision of lines to take hydro power to Buller, where there undoubtedly are resources which it would serve to develop for the national advantage. With one possible isolated exception, there is no district lacking State hydro power other than Buller. The rationale of public policy there is to discourage the population from expecting the availability of amenities for which power authorities cater everywhere else; and the same applies in the industrial sense. The comparison drawn by our representative with this district is striking—-more than a quarter of the consumers here with electrical ranges as against 1.04 per cent, in Westport. With- water heating installations the comparison is similar. Hydro generation is definitely ’cheaper than steam generation. and the coal used for the bulk of such power as meantime is obtainable in Buller could be put to a more profitable use if it were marketed . Isewhere. The coal involved approximates thirteen thousand . five hundred tons annually. The Buller Power Board pays a private company for the hydro power it provides—2so k.v.a. —twice as much as it would he required to pay were tire State supply extended to the district. It is a great hardship indeed. In the nature of present day industrial development, this lack is holding back a district which stands in need of development if it is to sustain its increased population, rather than lose regularly a definite proportion of i’lthis increase for lack of the means

of employment. The residents are thoroughly warranted in pressing their claim to consideration, and it is not too much to ask that the work requested be given a first priority.