Electricity.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XXIV, Issue 4123, 15 November 1919, Page 2

Electricity.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Quoting.from your issue of Wednesday last: "Mr P. B. Climie, organiser for the Canterbury Progress League, is using every means to bring pressure upon the Government to have the Lake Coleridge high tension line carried to Leeston. . . . that the league was out to furtner the interests of the district in regard to the electrical supply in every possible way." Now,! sir, I submit that more enthusiasm and enterprise regarding this matter should be exhibited by those most interested, viz., the people of Ellesmere. The maa in the street freely admits that electricity would be a great boon, but that it is almost impossible to work up a real live interest in the scheme. Apathy in a vital matter like this is not only stupid, it is criminal, and if persisted in will mean suicide to this district so far as progress is concerned. A question of this magnitude should not be left entirely tea local body or bodies; all the citizens should work to get the power to the district. Might I suggest that a committee comprising a number of live business men and representative wideawake farmers be set up to work in conjunction with the local bodies and the Canterbury Progress League to further the scheme in every possible way. If it achieved' nothing else, it would show at least that the people of the district were alive to their own interests and were endeavouring to help those who have the advancement of the town and district at heart. Towns in the North Island much smaller than Leeston are voting huge sums of money for electricity, realising that this power is not now a luxury, but is absolutely essential. Ewn th« Government has awakened to the fact that the power with which' the Dominion is so richly endowed must be harnessed, and are ready to subsidise schemes. But because it has taken the Government 20 years to realise that PQWer was lying dormant in our lakes, rivers'and Waterfalls, it is no reason why our citizens should slumber too. An instance of what was achieved some ' years ago in the North Island: The toTwi of Mangaweka, on the Main Trunk line, with about 500 inhabitants, formed a Town Board, harnessed a waterfall .'.ml transmitted power over two miles to light their little town. Such enterprise is worthy of imitation. I hope, sir, that some of your readers will write you on this subject and oerry it further!. We may reckon on getting very little from the Government unless we push our claims at every opportunity.—l am, etc. PROGRESS. Leeston, Nov. 14th, 1919.