CHEAP POWER

Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1935, Page 2

CHEAP POWER

NECESSITY FOR FARMERS. VIEWS OF ELECTRICAL EXPERTS WELLINGTON, July 9. “It is essential that cheap electricity should be available to farmers,” Professor J. N. Van tier Ley, formerly chief of the Government scr’viee for water power and electricity in the Netherlands East Indies, said to-day when he gave some impressions of hydro-electric development in New Zealand, after his tour of three weeks covering both the North Island and the South Island. He visited Arapiini. Waikaremoana, Lake Coleridge, and Waitaki. With the engineering aspects of t-ese schemes, tie was, lie' said, more than impressed. At Arapuni, through the unusual construction of the country, there had been difficulties which could hardly have been foreseen. The troubles which had arisen there, had however, been overcome very well. New Zealand appeared to be working on the right lines, taking full advantage or its natural advantages in the way of an abundant and convenient water supply. The system of district power hoards to attend to the distribution of supply was one which lie had not had a great opportunity of studying at the first examination. However, it appeared it might he more economical to have one central authority running the whole system.U.Y&gjijnst this was the argument tlia'tX-coiJtfalised control opened the way to the danger of political interference. Speaking of charges for electric power, lie emphasised the importance of cheap electricity to farmers. Care had to he taken that in scattered settlements charges were not made too high. Electric power was coming to mean mere and more to those on the land, not only in farm development, hut also | in home life. I