RURAL ELECTRICITY

Grey River Argus, 22 September 1945, Page 3

RURAL ELECTRICITY

EXTENSION TO BARRYTOWN On August 30, the Pcural Reticulation Committee of the Grey Electric Power Board, accompanied by the secretary (Mr. W. McClymont) and engineer (Mr. S. Trotter), met representatives of the Barrytown settlers. Messrs D. Ryall, A. Richards, G. Manderson and H. S. Langridge accompanied the Board’s representatives on a brief tour of the district, pointing out items of interest, introducing settlers and discussing the main purpose of the visit, the possibility of a supply of electricity. The furthest point north visited was the Punakaiki settlement, where Messrs Mouat and Morris met the party. At a public meeting Mr. Richards welcomed the Board’s representatives. He stressed the' possibilty of the district as a market garden and milk supply centre for Greymouth, also mentioning the timber still uncut in the back country, especially in the Punakaiki area.

Mr. Ryall said the dredge which had been responsible for the line to Barrytown had run for eight years on a guarantee of £5,000 per annum. He thought the Board must have made a profit out of the deal and should spend the profit in the district it came from.

Mr. Langridge pointed out that women had to do much of the work on dairy farms and that this would be eased with an electric supply. He thought at least six more farms would come into production in the area if electricity were available. Mr. Nesbitt stated that several small gold mining propositions would become workable and payable if they could be run on modern lines.

Mr. Hayden said returned servicemen, could not be expected to start farming in the district, much less bring their wives and families, under the present conditions. Mr. Manderson suggested that the Board’ should consider the extension of its lines in short sections, as money and material became available. Mr. Mouat said residents of Punakaiki settlement would guarantee a revenue of £250 per annum immediately. Mr. P. Blanchfield said that lie was prepared, with the unanimous approval of the committee, to recommend the commencement by the Board, within a period of from six to nine months, of the erection of the first section of the line, which would carry power as far as Mr. Langridge’s place. He assured the settlers that the line had not been held up through lack of sympathy, and that this sympathy, particularly towards the women on the farms, was even more than 100 per cent, among Board members. At a meeting of the Grey Electric Power Board last evening it was decided that this recommendation be put into effect within twelve montrs. Mr. Ryan said he would like to see the line extended another two miles to Poerua. —It was decided that the engineer report on this matter.