HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Northern Advocate, 17 June 1920, Page 2

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

!some time ago we advocated in these columns the advisability of having prepared a report on the hydro-electric resource., of this district by a fully qualified export. Nothing, of couise, has been done, but it is a significant fact that many other portions of New Zealand arc so alive to the advantage to be gained from hydro-electricity that pro posals are already being prepared in \ arious places. One of tiie latest is at Stratford. Prom an exchange we glean that at a meeting of the executive of the Hydro-electric League last Wednesday it was agreed to ask the local bodies 1o contribute up to £7t)o for the

].v.pose of securing reports on power sources. It was further resolved to ask the Government if they would pro- I vide transmission lines provided a satisfactory source of supply is obtained. It is probable that few districts could show a better supply than our own if taken in the aggregate. Take, for in- j stance, the Waipu district. There seems to bo no reason wiiy the harnessing of the Gorge falls should not provide a large and rich district vuth all the electric supply it would need and leave some to spare for neighbours. In the Kcri Keri district there is an abundant supply which could be utilised. At the Puhipuhi and in other places there are also various sources, and it seems to us a reasonable thing to get a report upon what we have, so that as soon as the farmers begin to see the advantage of the use of electricity they will provide the means to instal it. To enter into a discussion on the uses of this power would be futile. It is proved beyond doubt. The public, especially in the farming communities, want edu-_! eating to the advantages to bo gained from its use. Local bodies would do ! well to take the matter into consideration.