POWER SUPPLY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18150, 13 August 1924, Page 9

POWER SUPPLY.

CITY AND COUNTRY VIEWS. DIVERGENCE OF OPINION.

It is generally admitted by residents of the country districts, as well as town dwellers, that the time is not very far distant when there is bound to be a shortage of electric current to meet progressive requirements, but there would appear to be a distinct ditferenee of opinion as to who should make the neoessary provision to overtake the shortage. The Christchurch City Council is desirous of establishing a power station on its own account, while the prevailing opinion in the country districts appears - to be that the Public Works Department should make the necessary provision for future requirements and keep the. whole of tho electricity generating, m its own hands. At Monday's meeting of the Springs-Ellesmere Electric Power Board, Mr G. Maginness, who, with .the wcretary (Mr F. S. Jarman), attended the recent Power Boards the main business transacted and reConference in Wellington, reported upon ferred to the interview which Canterbury members of the conference had with the Prime Minister and Minister of Public Works. Mr Masrinness said that the deputation was arranged with the idea of acquainting the Prime Minister and Mr Coates with the view taken by the country districts as to the making of provision against a future shortage of current. The Mavor of Chnstchurch chose to put a different interpretation upon the objective of the deputation, and he put the visit ma different light to what was intended. There was going, to be a shortage, but the city and country people were attacking the problem from a different ann-le." The eitv was saying: "Let us dn the work,""but the country smd: "Let the Government do it, and keep the whole business in our hands—the hands of the State." The country people were not, as some city representatives supposed, working against tho interests of Canterbury. They were at one with the city people m recognising that there was a shortage in view.' but nothing said at Wellington could be construed into a town versus countrv attitude on the part of the representatives of the Power i Boards and countrv interesta generally. He had nothing whatever in his mind against the citv interests, but there was a difference of viewpoint, inasmuch ns the citv wanted to have its own plant and supply, and the country peoplf believed in the State handling tho matter.