THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, JULY 11, 1919. MANGAHAO ELECTRICAL ENERGY

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 11 July 1919, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, JULY 11, 1919. MANGAHAO ELECTRICAL ENERGY

The Manguhuo Hydro - F.leetri* League is to be commended l'or its activities, and in persisting in keeping the scheme prominently before the Government, with a view to pushing on with the work with ail possible speed. At the annual meeting of the League, held at Wellington recently, it was stated in the report that fair progress was now being made, between thirty and forty men being employed on the formation of the new road to the upper dam, contracts for the whole of which had been surveyed. It was certain, however, that a very much larger force must be employed on the work if it is to tie completed in anything api proximating the period allowed by Mr Parry, viz., three years, and the committee recommended members of the League to bring all possible pressure to bear upon the Government through the local members of- Parliament, aud in every other way to see that the work is further expedited. One portion in the League’s report is of special interest to this district. It is as follows:

—‘ ‘ There is a further development which your committee desires to draw attention to, and that is the need of preparation for using the power when available. We understand the Government do not desire to do any local reticulation, preferring that this be left to loeal bodies. It will be necessary, therefore, for each local body to ascertain by actual applications the number of residents prepared to use the power when available, and with that information for them to arrange their reticulation schemes accordingly. This will apply more especially to rural districts, but boroughs not at present reticulated for electric power and light will be well advised also not to leave this matter too long in abeyance. The amount of materiel required, especially poles, will

be enormous, and it would be as well r» be well advanced, so as to ensure no delay in utilising the power. In this connection it may be advantageous t* contiguous loeal bodies to act together, and their attention is therefore called to section 3 of the Electric Power Boards Act of last session, which provides an easy methotfcof so combining." There is sure to be a much greater demand for electrical energy from this source than there is power available. II e notice that Wellington. Palmerston North, and even Wanganui are actively engaged in connection with this big scheme, and if the smaller districts are cot careful the whole ox the available power will he used up. and they will be "left lamenting." At the last meeting of the Levin Borough Council. Cr. Goldsmith sounded a note of warning on this question, saying that

••'this district had two very strong neighbours in WefSegton and Palmerston North, who would absorb the great balk of the power, so that the smaller places would have to stand together to see that their wants were not . neglected.” We would strongly urge the ’settlers of this district to bestir themselves in this matter, which is of the utmost importance. Otaki will need a very considerable amount of power for lighting and power purposes, Levin will be* anxious to share in the advasi rages of cheap electrical power, while ; other townships all through this dis- \ rriet would be well advised to make fall inquiries into the scheme, and s« if they cannot participate in the .enormous advantages that are to be derived from, being linked to the ilangxhso current. We would suggest, that every local body along the coast make very strong representations to the Manga Leo League with ret-pset to their require-

merits, and keep the matter persistently before them, in order that our rc- ( quireineuts may receive attention. ItJ would also be" an excellent plan to secure a visit from Mr Birks (the expert in charge) to the various centres interested. Mr Birks would be able to give a great amount of information respecting tlie scheme that would be of immense value in assisting the settlers to make their arrangements for the use of the power. Me advise the settlers of the whole district to wake up to a sense of the supreme importance of this matter to the development of the district, and to leave no stone unturned to secure every possible advantage that the inauguration of this big scheme presents.