"THE ELECTRIC CITY."

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18013, 4 March 1924, Page 6

"THE ELECTRIC CITY."

NEW TITLE FOR CHRIST

CHURCH.

MR SCHREIBER'S VIEWS,

The city of Christ-church, from being a n-nrden city, in addition thereto should, according to Mr H. V. Sehreiber an overseas hydro-electricity expert, be also known as the electric city of New Zealand. Mr Schrciber is the representative of Messrs Hawley and Company, of Washington, 8.C., a. •world famous corporation in matters relating to the installation of hydroelectricity works, and came to New Zealand originally to secure the local data and carry out the requisite investigations for the preparation of the report for the Cliristchurch City Council on the proposed Waimakariri power proposal. He recently returned to New Zealand on another mission and is now about to return to hi 3 home. "My second visit to Cliristchurch," said' Mr Schreibei in the course of an interview yesterday "has been quite as happv as my first, with, the added pleasure* of welcoming old friends. The Kindly friendliness of New Zealanders certainlv warms one's heart for the people, "and makes it indeed a, great pleasure to come here when we can, to be of service to them. "Cliristchurch and its environs have many beautiful spots, and business advantages which ensure for it a great future. Not the least of its advantages, and one which I feel really few New Zealanders fully appreciate, is the abundant supply of potential electric power at its doors. It seems to me it would be a good idea to adopt the title of 'Tito Electric City,' take hold of its new power supply, and develop some of the many latent uses, for it, so that soon everybody will rc■cognise its right to the title as New Zealand's greatest electric city. "As great as is the value and importance of an adequate supply of industrial power to the development of a city and its suburbs, this is but a small thing in comparison with the possibilities of its direct appeal to the people because, of the very great (idvantages which it can bring into the common home. If, in the factory, it releases routine labour and takes the drudgery out of tho day's work, for the benefit and multiplying of output of the common workman, so it has proved its value in the home.

"There is nowhere where the comforts and convenience of life are more needed than on the average farm. There have been pro-phots, some of whom have proven their claims, who have predicted an abundant supply of power throughout any country, which will, in the century to oome, produce as great and radical changes in agriculture as the past century has seen in industry. "Certainly the unhealthy growth of the cities in many countries at faster rates than the .country districts, points to the need of a revolution of this kind. What benefits the eountry is bound to benefit the city, because being itself a non-producer, it draws its entire life from its country districts. It is these things, these undeveloped possibilities, these proofs elsewhere, which make the future of Christchureh look so good to the visitor. With a live-wire organisation to preach and push the vastly broader and more common uses of electricity in its many forms, it will be surprisingly few years before the present sources of supply are fully used up. "Everywhere else, where the price has been low and supply adequate, the market has developed, rapidly and broadly, and the cry has been for more and more. No man yet knows what are the limits of the demand of a people fully awake to the possibilities, and fully supplied with all the electric light, heat and power they can use. California is preparing to-day to furnish each man, woman and child with from 15 to 20 times the amount of electricity used by the people of Christchurch to-day. This is not for luxury but as a practical necessity, .and what California is doing, Christchureh and Canterbury can do, and when she does, people will come flocking her© as they are flocking to California, because life there is more worth while."