Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY MAY 28th, 1920. WATER-POWER DEVELOPMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY MAY 28th, 1920. WATER-POWER DEVELOPMENT.

The great asset of New Zealand is its “white” coal to be produced by harnessing the water power of the Dominion and converting the energy into controlled power There is an abund ance of available water power for hydroelectric purposes, but comparatively iictle use was made of it before 1900. Since then the development has heen growing and may now lie considered fairly extensive. It promises to be more extensive in tile new future if the means for the development of the great schemes in both Islands are available. Ten years ago the then Liberal Government bad to face great criticism for its action in undertaking in a national way the development of electric power from Lake Coleridge. Time, the true test of all enterprises, has justified the great enterprise and now tlie demands on the scheme are limited only by the capacity of the management to produce the power. Already it is highly remunerative as a State concern, and those who have visited Christchurch and suburbs can appreciate the value of the electric supply to the oi tv and its surroundings. Of course in an enterprise of this the experience in New Zealand is not singular. All over the world water power development has followed as a natural sequence. In the old world it is largely utilised, while in the near World, the United States and Canada alike are making very notable strides in development. Ini Australia there is a remarkable development in Tasmania, where power lias been developed and is draw mg trade and commerce to it. New Zealand therefore is not any pioneer, but is wisely following the footsteps pf other countries which have made a rtg. nnl success of the ventures.

Westland is richly endowed with jr wer sources if the capital were provide 1 to dovelopo them. One drawback here has been the lack of business in sight to justify a large enterprise. Export j once elsewhere shows that given the developed power the user is forthcoming because the “white” coal is so economical in most cases in use. Industrial expansion follows everywhere, and power is used for purposes undreamt of in the ordinary round of life. Once available it can be conducted wherever the line is taken, and this easy adaptability makes it common to all uses to which it- might be applied. In various -parts of New Zealand just'now distrets are straining every effort to have the ; power introduced, and the Government is being besieged on all sides to sunnlv . it. In other places semi-public enterprise is moving and power supp'" j boards are being established to take up j this great aid to industrial advance- '

meat. Southland is a very notable example where the people are taking up one of the largest of the colonial ventures in the matter of supply. Here in Westland, there is now the move to establish a Power Board under the Act and seek to provide for'district use a large supply of power. It is a movement pregnant with pronounced possibilities. Tiie Westland County Council acting on behalf of tlie people will give the ratepayers of Westland very sliurtly the opportunity of launching out oil an important provincial undertaking destined to place the district in the forefront of development, and putting it in tlie position of attracting huge industrial enterprises to our midst.