WOMEN CITIZENS’ ASSOCIATION

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23800, 20 November 1942, Page 2

WOMEN CITIZENS’ ASSOCIATION

There are now 38,000 users of electricity in Christchurch, compared with 9500 in 1920, and the price per unit has dropped from 2.96 pence in 1920 to .64 of a penny at the present time, said Mr E. Hitchcock, speaking at a meeting of the Women Citizens’ Association held at Ballantynes yesterday. Mr Hitchcock has been in charge of the Municipal Electricity Department in Christchurch for 22 years and in a short address he outlined the history of the use of electricity in Christchurch since 1902, when city refuse was used to generate steam to provide electricity. He emphasised two points—that the Electricity Department belongs to the citizens of Christchurch and that, though street lights are at present shrouded, none should be out; lights would be replaced as soon as the department learnt that they were not functioning. He added that it cost more to distribute electricity than to produce it. Mr M. J. Barnett, supervisor of parks and gardens, was the second speaker. There was, he said, in Christchurch about 1000 acres of parks and recreational areas, exclusive of garden plots that occupied nearly 100 acres, and the river-banks, a long park covering 70 acres. Mr Barnett then detailed the outstanding features of each park. Mrs G. H. Watts, who presided, thanked the speakers for their addresses. A collection was taken for the Makogai Leper Fund.