THE OAMARU MAIL MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1920. CASE FOR CALM CONSIDERATION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14041, 26 April 1920, Page 4

THE OAMARU MAIL MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1920. CASE FOR CALM CONSIDERATION.

The public are invited, to attend a nieet-i ing in the Picture Palace to-morrow evening to discuss the hydro-electricity scheme for Qtago originated by . the Otago ■ Expansion League, having its headquarters in. Dunedin. Tfc is highly desirable that • tliere should be a full attendance, not only because of the- importance of the sufcject, but because there are weighty matters to be considered before Oamaru elects to enter into the project, _or, on the other hand, declines to commit itself to an unknown liability. In order that our readers may not be taken unawares and be led into definite action one way or the other; we purpose setting forth facts that call for calm consideration. The project, then, has been- launched because it has become perfectly plain that Otago will have to wait for an indefinite period for the Government to enter upon a scheme to generate electricity upon a comprehensive plan. Otago will have to wait until /the. schemes entered=upon ■: in the North Island have been carried through. Canterbury has already been furnished with the Lake Coleridge. : hydro-elec-tricity scheme, which is to be extended to meet the growing requirements, the greater part of the North Inland is aving its , wants provided for, and Southland, perceiving at once the advantages to be gained from hydro-elec-tricity and the; danger of waiting until the Government is prepared to -undertake the work in the southern portion - of the Dominion, has resolved to carry through the enterprise on its own account. Unless, -therefore, action is: taken in " the direction proposed by the Otago Expansion League, this great province will, be left lagging a long way in the rear in the march of progress. What would that mean ? That all its ' industries, urban and rural agriculture', irfanufactures, and mining—would be seriously handicapped, and the inevitable result would be that people wouldbe attracted to other pjrts. of the Dominion where cheapened " means for enterprise and greater facilities for the prosecution of industries were available | In that way Otago would be deprived of .a considerable part of its population, and' retrogression " would' supervene where expansion is .desired . ancl emit© feasible under a; progressive policy. That is a stern fact that has to be boldly ■faced throughout the wholeprovince,' including our own district.- Ii is-ar Yact that - has fully impressed the moving spirits of the' Otago Expansion League and led them to take action designed to avert what would he little short of a calamity. 'The call to action should meet with a cordial response from the whole province, and the proiect so placed Jbeyond any doubt; But that response has not been given. The City of Dunedin; and -wit-h it a considerable area of South Otago, has "decided-to stand out, and tlius : the" province has become divided against- itself and - the successof the project lias been placed - in jeopardy. Dunedin's determination means that the whole weight of resoonsibility in connection with an enterprise designed to protect the interests and promote the welfare of all Otago 'is to. be cast

upon little more'than naif the province in point of population and also probably m point of the ratable value. The reason assigned for Dunedin's refusal to enter the Otago power district is that it alreadv possesses an electricity system that meets its needs.. But plausible as the excuse mav seem, the policy adopted is narrow, short-sighted, and selfish. There is no part of the province that would profit so much from the exparf- ■ sion of its industries and the fillip given to new enterprises bv the hydro-elec-trieitv scheme as would Dunedin. It is the entrepot of Otago, and whatever created increased production in the country in any and every direction wouldintuse new life into the city. v lts commerce and industries _ would receive a' great stimulus, and it would grow in population and wealth. The converse of the case holds good. If the project is not proceeded with, the province will, as we have said, be left lagging in the rear in the march of progress, and Dunedin will more keenly feel the inevitable result than will any other part of Otago. It seems to us, then, that the position has not been either adequatelv considered or fairly met in the metropolis. The point now to be examined is the attitude that Oamaru should assume in respect to the scheme, hut to that we must devote a separate article.