The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JULY 27th., 1916. ELECTRICITY AND FARMING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1592, 27 July 1916, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JULY 27th., 1916. ELECTRICITY AND FARMING.

IN liis interesting address at Hit' opening of; the Dominion Conference ()]' tlm New Zealand farmers’ Union nl Wellington on Tuesday, the president (Sir James Wilson) touched on (lie question of electricity as a motive force in connection with farming. Sir Janies said:— “The motive power of the future is going to lie electricity. Air Clifton, in an address given at the. Council of Agriculture, said he had seen a farm in California where everything was driven hy electricity generated hy water in the hills. The only thing not done thus was the tilling of the soil. The farmer told him that it would not he long before he was lining this 100. What a chance for the chief electrical engineer to he allowed hy his Alinister to give a demonstration of how much can he done on a Canterbury farm hy the power generated from La Ice Coleridge! J>y the use of the cheapest form of motive power, and the increase of machinery, even with high wages, we may he able to cheapen the cost of crops. Dairymen are all now impressed that, machinery must replace hand-lab-our, and the number of milicingmachines are being doubled.” Sir Janies is looking a, little ahead, hut he is reiterating what other observant men have publicly staled in connection with harnessing our rivers for generating electricity. Take for instance the power running to waste on this coast alone. There is a fall behind Shannon sufficient to generate 1 power to provide light and power for Foxton, Levin and Shannon, and every farm eu route, while the Ota Id Gorge (low could provide light; and power tor the whole coast. The Government have several big schemes outlined for the North and South Island which will be brought into operation in due course.