OF NEW ZEALAND. INTEREST

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 139, 15 June 1922, Page 7

OF NEW ZEALAND. INTEREST

LABOUR EXTREMISTS

HYDRO-ELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT.

(WIOII OUR OWN CORRISPONDIHT.)

LONDON, sth May. Matters relating .to hydro-electrical development are obtaining publicity in a number of English journals, chiefly ac the result of the placing of New Zealand contracts with British firms. The Wellington corresponded of The Times refers to the official announcement made by Mr. J. G. Coates on the progress of h.vdro-electrical policy and development, and takes the opportunity of summarising, the various schemes which are in operation and contemplated.

"It was recently asked in the House of Representatives," he relates, "by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. T. M.' Wilford, why the Government had accepted British tenders for certain generators and other equipment for the Mangahao scheme at prices considerably over those submitted by American manufacturers. The Minister's reply was to the effect that_ there was a difference of ' expert opinion on the merits of American and British plant. It cost £7000 more than the American offer, but the Government preferred to have British machines made by British workmen. It was taking great care to see that the goods supplied were made in Great Britain."

Under the heading, "An Important Order for New Zealand," the Electrical Times and Lighting publishes an article giving full details of the order for generators and switchgear for the new Mangahao power station, which has been placed with the Metropolitan-Vickers Company. "This order," says the writer, "marks a definite period in the ■history of switchgear development in this country in that it is stated to be the first placed for British-built material foxso high a voltage."

MILKING BY ELECTRICITY.

A well-written and technical article appears in the Electrical Times, from the pen of Mr. L.. Birks (of the Public Works Department, Wellington). His subject is, "Electric Power for Milking Plant." f

"On 30th April, 1920, there were 35J--643 milk suppliers to dairy factories," he writes,1 "and the number is increasing at the rate of about 10 per cent. per year. Of these, 8806 were using milking machines, requiring 2 to 3 horsepower each. This number is increasing at the rate of 16 per cent, per year, and will grow rapidly until it approaches the number of milk-suppliers. The total demand for this purpose alone will thus run into tens of thousands of horsepower, and will constitute a large proportion of the total demand for hydroelectric power in the Dominion. In fact, it is becoming clear that the milkingmachine motor, will be the main justification for a large proportion of the country reticulation. A revenue of £24 to £30 is available from the average dairy farm for the milking-machine alone. This justifies the line; and when the line is once run to the farm all kinds of other uses are found for electricity—lighting, ironing, cooking, heating, and power generally. But the peak load on the farm service in the dairying districts will be at the milking hours, morning and night. In view' of the difficulty of making country lines pay their way, it is important to keep down the size of wire-^i.e., the current and power consumption—and with the object of investigating this matter, a series of meter tests have been made on five typical milking plants in the Canterbury district."

It is with the results of these experiments, carried out by Mr. H. E. Philpots at Lake Coleridge, that the writer is chiefly concerned, and he shows the revolutionary effect that the application of electricity to the work of the farms will have.

LABOUR EXTREMISTS.

"An Old Blade," a Sheffield man who is now a New Zealander, writes' to the Sheffield Independent concerning Labour extremists. The basis of his complaints is the deplorable engineering dispute that is now going on in England. "I should like to know," he says, . "how Jong it will be 'before the average working man will look at things in a sensible light and cast the extremist out, for that is what all these union leaders are, and settle down to work and make an affort to recover the lost trade. Really, I am disgusted with the so-called unions. ilf I had my way with their leaders I would do what they do out here—put them in gaol for a lengthy period with hard labour."

After a good deal more to the point, the correspondent continues: ""I'don't want people to run away with the idea I don't know what I am saying, as I was in my union quite a long time, but ceased because the unions were going to extremes, and were very little'"use to anyone. I only wish a few of these engineers were here, and then I think they would alter their view. I have ibeen here a long time and -have only done_ very little, because I am an Englishman, and an ordinary working .man, who is being treated life the majority out here, that is, with disdain, and •would be very gladl to get back. ■■ I am ■sure the soon9r English workmen cease (paying their shillings per month to keen these-officials in idleness the better off they will be." . .

STATE-OWNED RAILWAYS.

New Zealand railways are thrown in with the Australian State-owned lines that the Glasgow Evening Citizen may point a lesson on State Socialism. "For the twelve months 1920-21," is is stated in an editorial, "the ratio of expenses to receipts was the dangerously high one of 81.15 per cent., an increase over theprevious year of nearly 7 per ceut. In New Zealand in 1918-19 the ratio was 66.30 per cent.; for 1920-21 it worked out at 87.59 per cent. Of course, it doesn't matter a. pin's point. There are no shareholders to complain, only the taxpayer, and in a well-ordered Labour Government that patient individual does not count for much. Still in the long end he may be roused. Indeed, in New South Wales he has revolted and turned savagely against the Labourists and their fitness to govern. In this matter of the railway services is he not, after all, being taxed so that the users of the railways may have their goods and their own carcases wheeled about at below cost rates? What is going on in Australasia, is, or ought to be; of educative value in the old countries of the world."

DOMESTIC SERVICE.

A correspondence on the vital subject of "Domestic Service" is proceeding in the Spectator. " A Sympathiser with the Employers" has something to say concerning the handmaidens of the Dominion, which is not altogether complimentary. "'Your correspondent who sympathises with the maids," he writes, "has heard one side of the question only, to judge by his letter. I have discussed the matter with the manager of one of the very best hotels in New Zealand. Although his maids had at least as much free time as your correspondent describes, and higher wages, yet he assured me that it was only with the greatest difficulty that he could Ijeep going—invariably ' shprthanded, and always troubled lest the- maids he had were scamping, their work whenever possible. j3o worried was he that he retired from business shortly after my visit in 1920. And yet, as.he said, ' If, anyone can.get them I can.' Evidently not even colonial terms of service can "satisfy the young women of the present da#. .