RAPID PROGRESS IN FRANCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 25 March 1926, Page 7

RAPID PROGRESS IN FRANCE.

Technical Revolution Described. AGE OF ELECTRICITY DAWNS. By Cable —Press Association —Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received March 24, 9.25 p.m.) LONDON, March 24. “The Daily Chronicle’s” World Trade series, discussing post-war France, insists on the importance of the technical revolution, including electrification. Thus Lens, which was reduced to ruins in the war, but at present is going through a renaissance. Lens is typical of the renaissance of all French industrialism. Pits have been completely reconstructed and the output is approaching pre-war level. Villages are being built round each pit; some are planned on garden suburb lines. The equipment is most up-to-date. Electrical energy is generated on the spot, the machines, including electrical and coal extracting contrivances. No ugly dumps scar the landscape. Special attention has been paid to the manufacture of synthetic ammonia for agriculture. It is expected in two years France will be independent of the importation of nitrates for fertilisation, as a result of using modern pulverisation plants. Twenty-five per cent, has been saved in the fuel bill. Ten thousand communes are now provided with electricity, an increase of four thousand since the war. As her coal reserves are relatively small, France is developing her so-called white coal. She is harnessing her waterfalls and rivers, which are capable of giving 6,000,000 horse-power, of which a quarter is now in use. The drift of peasants to the towns is causing anxiety, hut there are hopes that electrification will also, result In a revival of rural industries.