The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1926. MOVING DELIBERATELY.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1926. MOVING DELIBERATELY.

The “Argus” in some further remarks regarding the water power right whieli it is anxious to see appropriated to Greymouth Power Board to the detriment of Westland Power Board, in the district of which it belongs legitimately, still draws long shots as to the possibilities surrounding its utilisation. The Westland Power Board may ho trusted to handle its business with every safeguard for the ratepayers' interests. The Board, by the way, scorns to be composed of those who are themselves men with a large stake.in the district, and consequently, large ratepayers. Any expensive scheme of electrification, therefore, would a heavy rate loading and unless it was lan economic proposition within itself, are not the class of business men either to part with a lucrative asset, or, ultimately, incur a heavy liability merely for the purpose of gratifying a fad of the moment. as was commented on before, is moving circumspectly, or in other words, has adopted a policy of masterly inaeti vitv; that means that the inactivity lasts only for the period it is not ad vantageous to move. Given the propel conditions and the Board may ha expected to move decisively. The newspaper referred to. in its latest complaint still harks hack on the sale of the harbor endowments, but regards the value of the asset only in relation to the standing timber. The utilisation of the asset is the present value to the community, and that Is being returned now in the industry established, the employment created, and the wealth circulated. But for the capital put into the project byprivate enterprise and the business ability directing the concern, the trees would still be standing, and the asset be a dead burden round the necks of the Harbor Board. As remarked previously, the sale was forced, not by the local body, but by the Government, and the property went a-begging, but reached hands eventually, which undertook development, and gave the asset real value for the present generation. It was a good sale, and the profits earned by the Company are the reward of its enterprise. The community has its value and profit in the added population and the trade and business created. The volume of wages paid out by such a concern must he very large, and the -community has the immediate benefit of the circulation of that money, to say nothing of the indirect benefit to the country by the extra railway traffic and the general advantage arising from anv live business undertaking. If the Power Board can bring about a similar result by the introduction of electric power in North Westland, it will achieve a great deal. General development in tl« district at the moment is rather stagnant. But if mining can he revived by the application of changed methods of -working it fresh'

industries can be started; if the settlers on the land can obtain light and power readily applied (which is at present impossible) is it not reasonable to expect the move will give the district a marked impetus? The,.Board hopes to do much of this as far as we can ascertain, without adding unduly (if at all) to the burden of the people in local taxation. If the electric current can be taken to their doors without the undue cost the “Argus” writes of so alarmingly, the settlors will seize it and be grateful to a Board which nursed the assets of the district to some effect. The Board, according to the “Argus” is some association of men, seeking to prey upon the people—their own neighbours and fellow ratepayers—but the members of tbe Board are well-known public men, well tried in the public life of the district. They are men who lmve achieved success with their private affairs, and are not likely to rush in and besmirch their reputation as the “Argus” would infer. Oiir contemporary in its effort to belittle what is being done to do good service for Westland, in keeping with past records would seek to create a .spirit of unrest and lack of confidence. The effort might well he saved for some other occasion, for the Westland Power Board is moving too circumspectly to l>e guilty of the offence the “Argus’* seeks to lay at its door.