NEW ZEALAND LEADS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 41, 18 February 1937, Page 11

NEW ZEALAND LEADS

POWER FOR RURAL AREAS

A man who is full of admiration for the way in. which New Zealand has pushed on its electrical development, more particularly in the rural districts, is Mr. E. J. Jennings, of Birmingham, now visiting Christchurch (states the "Press"). Mr. Jennings until recently was secretary and commercial manager of the Birmingham Electric Supply Undertaking. He retired in March last, and subsequently decided on a six months' tour of the British Dominions.

"I am not taking a busman's holiday," Mr. Jennings said, "but I have been able to see something of your electrical schemes here. One place I visited was Arapuni." From what he had seen he was convinced that the power was carried further into the rural districts than was the case in England. "You are much in advance of the Old Country in this respect," he said.

Mr. Jennings said that he had noticed transmission lines running to small settlements of six or eight houses, or even huts. Such a comprehensive scheme had not been followed in England, and it possibly accounted for the fact that the charges for power were cheaper there. The electric power undertakings had picked out the cream of the market, largely to the neglect of the country. That matter 'was, however, now being adjusted, arid a start was being made in getting the power further out from the main ■ centres.