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Hokitika Guardian, 23 October 1929, Page 4

ihe, fact, that both the hydro-electric schemes in this district have proposals in hand for expanding the.r resources of power, must have ah effect eventually on the industrial developments of the local ties served. The appliea-. tion of electricity in general in New Zealand is comparatively recent, and it is too soon to guage the possibilities,'but the experience of other countries where electricity is growing in use and service, leaves no doubt as to the 'ultimate effect. It may be expected, therefore, that the power here will be supplied industrially as time goes on, and that secondary industries will an-e and add to the permanence and general prosperity of the district. Canada is a striking example ot tlie extent to which hydro-electricity can develop. The Dominion is,' of course exceedingly well placed as regards sources of power, and the natural gifts m that respect are being used to great advantage. New Zealand, ' too, has great sources of natural power, as the water is harnessed, and there are many ,streams in both Islands now being harnessed, and as tnese come into general utility, this Dominion may follow steadily in the footsteps, of the greater Dominion of Canada. It is interesting to note-that according to a late account the water-power development of. Canada' has ihcreased 2,990 per cent, since 1900 and to-day Canada has invested upwaids of a billion dollars in this industry alone. Canada: s potential power capacity is 32,000,000 horsepower calculated on the usual six months’, flow, of which 5,328,000 horsepower has been developed to . date. The Dominion ranks third among nations of one world in amount of developed * horsepower per 1 (00 of population, being preceded by Nor-, way and Switzerland, while Sweden, the United States, Fran e, Italy, Spam Japan, and Germany' follow in that order. One of the attractive features of the power situation is that the two provinces, Ontario and Quebec, which have no coal mines, together have 19,000,000 of.-this calculated horsepower, and practically all of the developed horsepower. If these two provinces had to resort to coal for the industries in the settled districts, and the mining and pulp and paper industries in the newer sections, the annual bill would run between 80,000,000 dollars and 100,000,000 dollars, all of Which would go to United .States coal producers. It is this fact, the presence of cheap water power, that is contributing to Canada’s remarkable industrial growth, and ’with her capacity in this direction virtually inexhaustible Canadians can well afford to view the future with confidence. New Zealand has coal as well .as water power at its service, arid with these two aids to the provision of power, the growth of industry ih turn country is not likely to be checked seriously because of tne high cost of fuel supplies. The two rivals will be a check on each other as to price, and industrial development should result in consequence, In this respect, New Zealand is again fortunately placed, there is thus a special assurance as to the future maintenance of steady industrial expansion. Westland, as time goes on, should parti ipate also in that important development as electric power be-' comes i 1 available for the different avenues of manufacturing.'