HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 February 1919, Page 4

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

U is satisfactory to note that a meeting is to be held at Eltham to-morrow evening in connection with the proposal to establish a hydro-electric scheme for supflying the settlers in that district with electric current. A step of that nature indicates that the people of our sister town are not allowing their progressive spirit to evaporate, for it has come to be recognised that electric energy, wherever it can possibly be obtained, is an absolute essential to progress and prosperity. Aa a business proposition it is as sound fin-ancially-aa it is economically both as an iliiiminant and a power generator. In no portion of the Dominion can hydroelectric power bo more serviceable than in Taranaki. Now Plymouth affords a very good exmapie of the benefits derived f*om this source, and is about to spend £40,000 on further development of powt'l, i vO we should like to sec eve:v town and district in the prt,v.'iice linked up by a service of electricity, in a similar manner to the telephone service in the direction of availability to the whole community. Municipalities are now authorised to undertake hydro-electric schemes, but while in some cases the developing power is not within reach it would be possible for contracts to be entered into with those municipalities who have the ■idvantage of watcrpower and can lie'o their less fortunate neighbors. We are i">w in acute touch with labor and oth«r problems demanding the use of every aid that science can provide, and those distiicts which make use of these aids wl be in the forefront of progress and pr,. v perity. It is likely to be many years before the State can supply the whole '■i the Dominion with electric current, and that is why public bodies have been granted the power to supply and distribute this commercial and industrial necessity. The advantages are so great in business, in the home, at the factories and for the farms that it would be supe;fluous to stress them, nor is there aiv occasion to do so. Where there is a will, a way can be found, and it is inconceivable in these days that the will to instal an electric service is not strong enough to find the way. It is therefore distinctly pleasing to find that Eltham ia seeking to solve the problem, and we I can Bee no reason why any difficulty

should be experienced. A manufacturer fir.da it pays to scrap out-of-date machinery in order to obtain more satisfactory results by installing machinery that will pay. How much the better then is a proposition to acquire such a splendid asset as hydro-electric power which haa not only proved itself a profitable undertaking, but a boon to the community? The times are too strenuous to stand still and it is only by progressive moves based on sound economic principles that increased prosperity can be obtained. We hope to see the Elthara scheme taken up with enthusiasm and thereby helping forward the best interests of the people and the good name of Taranaki.