The Daily News. FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1921. TILTING AT WINDMILLS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 April 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1921. TILTING AT WINDMILLS.

It is a pity that there were no representatives of New Plymouth present at the Stratford Progress League meeting on Wednesday, for then the discussion on the hydro-electric situation would probably have taken a different and more useful turn. New Plymouth was blamed for keeping out of the proposed provincial board and generally accused of playing the “dog in the manger.” It is an entirely wrong assumption, i? unneighborly in spirit, and, moreover, does a serious injustice to New Plymouth. The town has got its own district to exploit. It has made a contract with' Inglewood when power is available, and at a rate which is especially advantageous to Inglewood. One speaker was inclined to commiserate with Inglewood over the position in which it finds itself. He need not have done so; he should have commiserated with New Plymouth,'which has made what will prove a bad bargain, in view of the unexpected increase in the cost of generation. New Plymouth is “up agaiiist it” over securing the necessary finance to complete the extended scheme on which it is engaged, and is entitled to the support of its neighbors in the efforts it is making to obtain the money. As soon as the present work is completed, there will be surplus power available for the rest of Taranaki, which, either as one power board or several small boards, can purchase the power in bulk, as Inglewood has contracted to do. Instead of railing at New Plymouth, which is doing its best to provide power under circumstances of great difficulty, and incidentally undertaking a big financial responsibility therewith, some of the members of the Progress League would be doing a greater service to the people they represent by endeavoring to set up a board, or boards, and arranging to finance the reticulation of their own districts. Their present policy leads nowhere. The other would lead to districts between Inglewood and Hawera being supplied with power as soon M the present aeheme ie complete, vie.,

in eighteen months, providing New Plymouth can raise the money required outside New Zealand, as is -hoped. The price of the power, as we have before pointed out. is a matter that is entirely in the hands of the Government. New Plymouth has, therefore, no chance whatever of exploiting other parts of the province, as some apprehend It simply wants to develop the scheme in its own way, as it has been developing it for the past sixteen years. It should be recognised that the New Plymouth ratepayers are unlikely to agree to a change, in the control of the works, as to assent to inclusion in one board for the whole province would involve. This perfectly natural attitude really does not affect the position in the slightest degree. Electric power is what the outside districts require—and as soon as possible. It can be supplied by New Plymouth at a rate fixable by the Government. Therefore the way is clear. As soon as New Plymouth has surmounted its present financial difficulties, then arrange for the setting up of a power board, or -power boards, and the necessary finance for the erection of the transmission line and reticulation. In giving a lead in this desirable direction the Progress League can be of real service and help. ,To continue its present course is akin to tilting at windmills, and calculated to breed disunity. /