Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, JANUARY 27th, 1920. THE COMING POWER.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, JANUARY 27th, 1920. THE COMING POWER.

The world in general, and this Dominion in particular, is ringing with schemes affecting hydro-electric possibilities. Cheap power is an essential aid to development in these days when labour is growing both dearer arid searcer. Machinery is coming into greater utility, and cheap motive power is necessary to combine with machinery Helping to solve the economic- situation. In common with other piaces, W estland should bo alert to the attendant possibilities of hydro-electric development or the special reason that nature lias been lavish in the placing

of possible schemes up and down this Coast. In other parts of New Zealand expenditure running into hundreds of thousands of pounds is contemplated in order fo- secure cheap power for industrial expansion. The coal shortage and the prohibitive cost of coal in some quarters, has driyen public attention to power-schemes to solve iijot only motive-power, but also lighting and heating, and other comforts within the home. As mentioned above, Westland has exceptional natural advantages jto partiticipate in the new era dawning, if the peojile in the first place would realise the remarkable opportunity which is knocking at the door just now.

The southern sister province of Southland is an admirable example of what might bo done in the matter of local enterprise to develope a public service of lasting value. There, from very small beginnings, a great power scheme has been evolved, and is now iu a fair way of entering upon a course of success which will transform Southland into one of the foremost territories of the Dominion In the example just quoted the Southland people had to rely on their own initiative to float their big scheme into a concrete undertaking Here, the conditions are more favourable still, because there seems to be the chance of acting in conjunction with a capitalistic scheme which f/y Reason of its own initial demands for power, assures the very success of the power project from the outset. In this country hydroelectric works are

in choir infancy. There i s .the outstanding success of (the Lake- Coleridge scheme which by the way stapds to flu; credit of the Liberal Government daring their reign of power—-a supces.s achieved in the face of considerable political opposition from the party now M> power. In other parts of the world, notably America, Europe and even Australia, there .are striking examples lof the marked success atifcgnding these schemes in to the prospering conditions brought about for the lo-

calities in which the undertakings are brought to a bond. The other day a gentleman who is hero in connection with the Rimu Flat proposition, discussed the subjects at some length with local residents, and was able to speak authoritatively of the success being made in Southern Tasmania by the introduction of hydroelectric power, first as a private enterprise, and afterwards being taken over for .the benefit of the State. In this immediate neighbour-

hood thpre arc several sources of power which could be harnessed, and the suggestion was made that the focal bodies consider the Ihusincss side of the proposal, and invite the Government to should come together in conference, supply an expert report on the availably .schemes. The legislation now provides for Power Boards to be created. These are of the nature of a local body, 'and if one were constituted here, that body could take up the project for the benefit of the district as a whole. Thi s suggestion is akin to Opportunity knocking at tho door, and

Westlanders should be alive to the oc- ; casion, admit the proposal, and seriously consider to what extent the mat- i ter could be taken up.