HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER SCHEME.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2213, 9 December 1920, Page 2

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER SCHEME.

ALTRUISTIC V. THE PAROCHIAL. *

(Fcilding Star.)

The Mangahao hydro-electric power scheme, so far as it affects this coast, has come under the review of the papers in the districts concerned since the Minister lias given his ultimatum for the One Big Board of Conlrol. The Foxton Herald, commenting on the proposal of the Manawatu Comity Council to hive off. whilst pointing out (hat the Council is inviting the veto of the Minister, wisely advises the townsfolk of Foxton to hold a public meeting to save themselves from being loft out in the cold. The Palmerston Times -accepts the verdict of the .Minister in good part, .animadverting against the parochial spirit, and warning ratepayers againsl, the expense of adopting a lone-hand policy. The Times concludes; “The sensible tiling would seem to be to call a conference of all lhe district bodies concerned,

with a view to arriving at an agreement on broad, businesslike, and common-sense lines.’’ It should be pointed out that Fcilding lias been inviting Palmerston all along (o just,

such conferences. PA LMERSTON’S POLICY,

It is ihe Standard that lias taken Minister Coates’ verdict not 100 well. For once that journal has not risen to the occasion and whooped over the opportunity afforded by the .Ministerial grace of al ladling Podding as a suburb to the fifth (or is it the sixth?) largest town. Instead, the Standard lias a very real fear that Fcilding will absorb Palmerston! H fears that if it holds aloof from the One Big Board scheme, Palmerston may drive business lo Fcilding—because the.y would have lo pay their electric li*fht accounts and gel their electrical supplies in our town! All the same, it is obvious to ilie Standard (hat the wisest, course for its people lo adopt would be to conic in will! tbc rest of the Coast. Having engaged’expert advice and mappfid out its own scheme, and having also secured its license to do so, Palmerston should go ahead with its task of reticulation in preparation for the turning on of the power from Mangahao. When (hut scheme has been carried out, then the big town could join up. In that way it could keep all the electrical business in its own town. Fcilding is already reticulated—why not Palmerston? Fcilding has been preparing from the inception of the Mangahao scheme —and is going ahead with the real business of carrying out the scheme for the good of the whole coast.