ELECTRIC LIGHT FOR MILITARY CAMP.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3760, 28 February 1928, Page 3

ELECTRIC LIGHT FOR MILITARY CAMP.

POWER BOARD’S POSITION EXPLAINED.

The Horowhenua Power Board had before it at its last meeting, an application by Captain S. Gibbons for a temporary electrical' installation for the Manawatu Mounted Camp to be held on t-lie Foxton racecourse in May. In the resultant discussion it appeared that the Board could not undertake the installation of fittings, but that such work might to carried out by private contractors, as the current is laid as far as the racecourse.

Mr. W. E. Barber, who lives in the vicinity, stated that the Artillery ha! a camp on the course at present. There were five different camps coming in one after another. The application was worthy of consideration. The camp had been an annual affair for three years, and he saw no reason why it should not be continued. There would be other uses for the installation as well. Early in the present year a camp for boys had been conducted there by the Rev. Fielden Taylor. Mi\ A. J. Petherick stated that four batteries of artillery would be going into camp next month, and they had not made a demand for electricity. He could riot see what the troops wanted it for. He had attended a good many military camps. If the military proposed to pay for the installation, the project was reasonable; but he was opposed to the making of any concessions, because he thought that electricity was not needed in Territorial camps at present. Mr. Barber: They would have to pay for it for the buildings. The Chairman (Mr. G. A. Monk) said the main point was that the Board did not carry out installations. He believed that the current was already laid to the course. If the Racing Club were to instal the fittings, the Board could supply the current —assuming that the drought was over by the time the supply was .wanted.

Mr. Petherick remarked that, with daylight saving in operation, if the troops made use of electric light at night they would x not be able to do their work properly on the following day. The Government made an allowance for kerosene and candles for the camps; if the men wanted the utilities of their own homes, they had better stop in town.

The Chairman: My experience of camp lighting was to stick a candle in a bayonet. (Laughter).

Mr. C. Blenkhorn: I think it is very harsh treatment we are trying to meet out to these gallant defenders of ours. They want all the encouragement they can get. I think Mr. Petherick forgets he was young once. The people who so kindly furnish the conveniences for these camps are entitled to some consideration, and possibly they may be good customers of ours. By giving electric light we do away with kerosene and candles, which are a menace to the buildings. We are not only making the men’s holiday more attractive, and encouraging the social life, but are Helping the people who evidently think it a fit and proper thing to go rather out of their way to encourage a camp in their midst. If we can do anything to make the men’s stay in camp more comfortable, if it is in our power to do it we should.

The Chairman said he meant to convey to members that if the Board was going to instaL the lights, it would have to depart from its policy of the past four or five years. If an installation was to be paid for, the military authorities might just as well pay ,a private contractor as pay the Board. The latter had neither the material nor the means, while the contractor had both. The Board’s business was to supply the power or current. He would say that the Board was not prepared to supply the fittings or put in the equipment ne-< cessary to light the camp; and its reply should be on these lines. Mr. Barber: I think it would probably be advantageous to have an estimate.

The Chairman: I don’t think we should supply that unless we are asked for it.

The secretary (Mr. Goldsmith) stated that military camps had been held in Levin; and the promoters in the last case had the electric light fittings put in by a contractor. The Chairman: We sold them the current.

Mr. A. Seifert stated that some electrical firms hired out fittings. It was resolved to reply to Captain Gibbons stating that it was not the Board’s practice to make installations, and suggesting that he communicate with electrical contractors.