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Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1921, Page 2

This correspondence read at the meeting of the Westland Electric Power Board on Friday last disclosed a very satisfactory prospective demand for electric power throughout the power supply district. In appears that in the district then! 4 are some thirty-three sawmills established, or to be established immedfhtely. More than n score of these will take power and absorb fully 700 or 800 horse power from the outset. The demand from this source of consumption is sure to increase as the steam plants are discarded or augmented for various brandies of the industry. In regard to the farming centres, the experience elsewhere is that the power is taken wherever the power line can be tapped. Electric power is so useful aland- a farm, being so readily applied, that even a slightly increased cost does not stand in the way,— it is the actual convenience which counts. And time is money where other labour has to he employed awaiti,ng the getting up of steam or other delays in securing motive power. It. iN interesting to note that where [lolls are taken for loans to raise money to introduce electric power, they are carried invariably by sweeping majorities. This has been noticeable in various communities both on the East Coast in the North Island. Westland’s next step is to select its source of power. This it would appear cannot be done readily. In his communication to the Bonrd, Mr Park reviewed the vari-

ous sources of supply very fairly, without giving a definite opinion as regards a final selection. For a lead in that direction tho local Board will Ire more justified in looking to the report of Mr Bilks which naturally will be the lines on which the Government would work. In regard to any development of power here, it might be necessary to seek financial aid or co-operation from the Government. and for that reason no definite steps win Im* taken locally till Air Birks’ opinion is ascertained. This will lie awaited with interest and should be a very useful guide to the local Power Board.

At Dunedin last week a deputation representing tho Otago and Southland gold-mining industry, waited on Air AI assey asking for compensation for losses of profits occasioned by the embargo on the export of gold during the war. Air Massey replied that it wasimpossible to grant the request, as the law did not provide for any reimbursement by those who had made an extra profit, and he refused to place any additional burden on the taxpayers for that purpose. Although Air Afassev ns Afinister of Mines was so unsympathetic in his reply to the Otago miners, tin* rebuff should not put tho Westland miners off from putting forward a like request here this week when the Alinister comes amongst us. The argument for assisting the miners with a subsidy is much stronger than that on which the Government is [laying out hundreds of thousands of pounds for a butter fat subsidy, wool deal, and wheat growing encouragement bonus. The' miners wore cut off front all outside markets compulsorily, and their product had to be disposed of at the local normal price, and not at tho world’s market price, which Afr Alassey has been so anxious to concede to the dairyman, the wool-grower, and the wheat, producer. And gold is as essential for the economic opulence of the country as much as any other commodity which can be mentioned. Indeed, gold is of greater importance, and to assist exchange business it would be in the interests of the country, to encourage more and more the production of gold in New Zealand. The Westland miners have a legitimate case and claim to put before Afr Alassey, and they should mil be discouraged by the reply at Dunedin last week. It will be for the miners, also, to remind tlm Afinister of Afitics that he is without a progressive mining policy. The departmental methods at the moment liorder on stagnation, and total indifference to the fortunes of the industry, and if a large staff is to be maintained what practical use is to be made of them, if they are there to do what is intended—promote and advance the interests of gold-mining!