People At Roxburgh

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28471, 28 December 1957, Page 3

People At Roxburgh

Hydrotown: the social history of an industrial settlement. By W. J. Campbell, M.A., Dip.Ed (N.Z.); Ph.D (Londo- ) University of Otago. 122 pp.

To satisfy New Zealand’s growing appetite for electrical power, an estimated £25,000,000 will be spent before 1970 for hydroelectric, solid fuel or geothermal power stations. This amount is a little more than one quarter of all the capital likely to be invested by the Government during that period* Included in the planning is the hydro-electric station at Benmore and the linking of the two islands to form a national grid. Both of these conceptions are on the frontiers of known achievement and are a credit to the foresight and courage of those responsible. The money needed to finance expansion is not obtained without sacrifice. That even only a small 1 roportion • of it should be squandered is a matter, for public concern, especially as the charges for power are to be increased considerably. This little book, which is a sociological study of the community at Roxburgh, gives the reader a peep behind the curtain of “hydrotown.” It is not concerned with economics but its implications do not make for confidence in the thrifty use of the available capita] resources Rather does it indicate a measure of laxness that is alarming. Those responsible for future developments could well profit from this backward look at Roxburgh and plan and prune their programme accordingly.