ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 395, 26 July 1918, Page 4

ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

AGRICULTURISTS AND PASTORAL INTERESTS, The following is taken from the report of the Board of Agriculture:— There is a universal cry for increased production, and the necessity for that cry must be admitted by everyone who has given the slightest thought to the position that will exist when the war is ended. On what portion of the community of this Dominion will the greatest burden of increased production fall? Undoubtedly upon the farmers and pastoralists; we cannot be called a manufacturing country, and increased production in New Zealand virtually means more foodstuffs and more wool Is the country capable of producing more than it has hitherto done? Potentially there is almost no limit to the productiveness of this Dominioit, Three things are essential: Closer settlement, better methods of farming, and less dependence upon hired labour, or more inducement fur hired labour to offer itself. Very material increase in production §an no doubt be effected without closer settlement, hut only if the second and third essentials can be supplied. As to closer .settlement, population is the true index, and when we conap&l£ the census figures for the years idff and 1916 it is abundantly evident Miat in the South Island the reverse hi' closer settlement has taken place, while in the North Island the country population has increased hy less than 2 per cent per annum. The net result over the Dominion as a whole is that the country population has practically remained stationary, and when the tact that the cities and borough - have materially increased in population during the period under review is taken into consideration, the position is one that calls for immediate and careful consideration.

It is abundantly evident that the inhabitants of this Dominion are heing steadily attracted to the centres. and that the rising generation and immigrants from other countries are finding their way to the towns in a far greater ratio than to the country. This most regrettable state of affairs must be entirely reversed if increased production and closer settlement are to be realised. The cause must lie in the fact that town life, with all its cleanliness, its comforts, its conveniences, its amusements, is a striking oontrast to the drudgery, the mud, the discomfort, the lack of convenience and social intercourse which falls to the lot 01 the dairy or back country farmer, mid even of the squatter. It is quite useless to talk ahenil closer settlement until an endeavour is made to minimise this great and cogent disparity. It must he ma'lmpossible for the farmer to live and carry on his business with sometime, more akin to the amenities availabi to the townsman, and in scarcely less degree does that apply to the farmer's wife and family. It must also In- made possible for the farmer to till the *oil, sow his seeds, reap and harvest his crops, and have a means of trans port through power other than the horse. The capacity of a team of horses is limited; the horses have to be fed whether they are work in- ■ idle, they are idle probably halt the year; the depreciation in their value is heavy, and often there is absolutely a loss. So far as power is concerned, the fanner as a class is the largest user, and is the mainstay of thicountry, yet he is hast thought of. and the power facilities at his disposal are the most primitive in existence. As to the need for better methods of farming: Science will do much in the near future for the farmer, as it has done in the past, but the greatest incentive of all. both in the farmoi and his employee. to adopt better methods and carry them to success Wotlld be cheap, flexible, conVelliellt. and efficient power. Regarding the necessity for the farmer to he less dependent upon hired labour or he in a position to offer more inducement to the employee Farm work under prevailing conditions is not attractive employment for the hired man or woman There is little exercise for one's brain power ~r intelligence. The application of cheap mechanical power to farm work would make the small farmer independent of outside help, [n short, the farm and up-country station would no longer be the haven of the ne'er-do-well, hut the most attractive and most beneficial opening for the youth of the Dominion. A power that will at the same time be cheap, easily conveyed, flexible, and efficient is an urgent need to the farmer. The one power that would meet all these requirements is electricity, and jt irive* light and heat in addition to power. Tf electric energy were made available to the farmers it would - Promote closer settlement by making the amenities of the farm ami hack country more akin to those of the towns. It would promote better method* of farming. It would nullify the labour difficulty. la « word, it would increase promotion with better returns to the producer. The KWtrie Power Board* Bill laid upon table of the House of Representatives by the Riciht Hon. Sir Joseph Ward is drafted with two objects in view. First, to make it possible for a board elected by the ratepayer* to generate electric power and distribute it within any district not eoming within the scope of any existing or contemplated Government leheuie; and, second, to purchase electric energy from the Government or other available source and distribute it within a defined area. Such a measure will make it possible for farming districts to have equal facilities with tin centres so far as electric energy is concerned. It will also eliminate the menace that the existing method now creates in the added attraction ;bat electrification of the towns i; to

the people to drift from the country. The "8311 has been draftofl at the instigation, of the Southland League, am), if enacted, Southland is united in the intention to take immediate advantage of its provisions.

It is contended by the Southland i,raaiie that the Government, while exercising full control of the water power, should not act in the "do? in the manner" manner indicated, and in cases where an approved development scheme exists, and the people interested are prepared to carry it into effect, whild the Government is not, machinery should he available whereby the powers of development should he delegated to a properly constituted authority to proceed with the work under Government control and supervision.

In like manner where a hydro-eleo-trie scheme i= in existence and any area that could be conveniently served with power therefrom is not so served, it should he possible for the Government to erant the rieht to a properly constituted authority to purchase tha power from the existing source and reticulate it within the defined limit* of that district.

Tlie Electric Power Boards Bill is drawn I" meet these circumstances. It is the direct outcome of the desire to have hydro-electric power made available to every man, woman and child within the. Dominion at the earliest possible moment, it is designed to assist the Government, and in no way to interfere witli it in the electrification of flic Dominion; in point of fact, it is contended that without such measure the full benefit and usefulness of the power generated cannot bo enjoyed. The cities, boroughs, and towns jret immediate use and benefit through their respective councils and boards, but the country districts are almost entirely unserved. In view of the importance, of cheap power and light to the, dweller in the country and the fact that the farmer would individually become the largest consumer of power were it made available, it, is suggested that the Electric Power Boards Bill should meet with the unqualified approval of agriculturalists and pastoralists from one end of the Dominion to the other.

MANUREWA TOWN BOARD. MONTHLY MEETING. At 1 lie monthly meeting of the Manurevva Town Board, held at the PublicHall, Manurewa, on Monday evening last, there were present: Messrs. T. J. Corin (Chairman), E. Pegler, C. H. Lupttn, G. Coxhead, F. Woods, with the (Mr. H. Kay). Overhead Bridge Loan. A letter was read from the Manukau County Council, stating that, in their opinion, the work connected with the approaches to the overhead bridge could not be carried out fur the estimated amount (£1,750), but if the Board would agree to pay all the preliminary expenses relating to the loan the Council would be prepared to proceed with the petition for the loan. After some discussion, the Clerk was instructed to reply that the Surveyor's estimate was £1,750, but even if that sum was exceeded, the cost would bo more than covered by the proposed loan of £2,000. especially as a further 10 per cent, on the £2,000 could be raised if necessary. Further, that the Board wen- strongly of opinion that the work could be carried out for the £1,750; and also as the preliminary expenses were likely to be small, they wi re prepared to guarantee them. The plan, as submitted to the Council. showed a road a full chain wide leading to the approach to the bridge, and the approach itself was 30ft wide. It necessary, the Board considered the road could be reduced in width, so as to conform with the amount of tieestimate, two adjoining owner(Messrs. Phillips and Gilbert) having promised to contribute £3OO towardthe work. Hill Road Dedication. It was reported that the dedication ot Hill Road was bring left in abeyance until negotiations with the owners of the adjoining land had been completed. Public Hall Loan. With reference to the loan of £f,sn to provide for principal, interest, and sinkiii'. fund to effect 'he purchase of the Public Hall, it was decided to make and levy a special rate of 1-1 ltli of a penny in tin- £ over the Town Hoard's area. Railway Station Control. A* a result of the representations made some time a"'o to the Premier (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey, M.P.) regard ill-,' the appointment of mi officer in charge at the Manurewa Railway Station, the General Manater of Railways wrote that the amount of traffic at the .station did not warrant such an appointment. Rate. In accordance with the official notice advertised in the "Times," it was resolved. on the motion of Mr. Lupton, (o strike and levy a General District Rate of Jd. in the £ for the year ending thi 1 31st March next. Road Improvements, It wat decided to repair Massey and Russell Roads with scoria, and Oram and Hill Roads with scoria. Accounts. Accounts amounting to £53/0/8 were passed for payment. Crude were the drugs and clinic way*, In wli.it were called "'the good old days," For science then w«is at its birth, And what it taught was little worth. Tliev knew no anaesthetics then. Nov means of storing owgen : And what was as sad, be sine. Thev had no Wood-' (iieat Peppermint Curs.