Electricity for All

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 112, 24 April 1936, Page 7

Electricity for All

MINISTER’S - PLANS Much Room for Reform in Costs and Supply BILL NEXT SESSION? (By felegraph—Special lo “Tribune."! WELLINGTON, April 23. The Minister oi Public Works, the Hon. B. Semple, hopes to bring electric lighting ami heating witniu the reach of everyone. When asked whether he intended to bring down legislation this session dealing with lhe control and supply of electricity, he replied that it was unlikely that he would be able to do this before next session of Parliament.

The Minister stated that ho had not had limo yet to go thoroughly into tho matter, hat he is conviuceu, us a result of the inxormation that he has so fur gathered, from investigations and ouservui.oiis, that there is much room for reform in New Zealand’s electrical sup-

•‘Present conditions are entirely un satisfactory,” said the Minister. -‘There are thousands of people throughout New Zealand —particularly backniocks settlers —who arc unable to enjoy the amenities coincident with the service of electricity. .1 uni looking forward to tho day when it will bo in every homo, even in the remotest corners of our country. It is one service that can be used to great advantage iu reducing the drudgery of every working mother. It also has unlimited advantages in the farming community, and in all forms of manufacturing, ana the cost is negligible in comparison with the service rendered. ‘‘l am satisfied that electricity will eventually take the place of oil and petrol in all forms of transport,” said the Minister. “When in the South Island recently, I saw at work a tractor driven by electricity. The mechanism of it was simple and foolproof, end there was no sign of noise. This absence of noise is a valuable consideration to-day. The farmer who used this tractor said that the cost was much less and the efficiency much greater than oil-driven machines.” Mr Semple stated that he knew, from his own experience, that men who operate a petrol-driven tractor suffer, in the course of time, through lung trouble from the carbon monoxide fumes.

“The task ahead of us is to control electricity in such a way that the overhead costs will be reduced so that the charges to the public will automatically come down.” The Minister stated that before the job is tackled it will be necessary to mAke full investigations, in order to find out tho weakness in the present system and the leakages that take place. He intends as soon as the session is over to start an investigation with a view to bringing electricity within the reach of everyone, at the least possible cost.

Mr Semple has already had conferences with supply authorities outside the national supply, and has talked along these lines, and now has the confidence and the co-operation of everyone concerned.