WORLD POWER CONGRESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19011, 6 November 1923, Page 9

WORLD POWER CONGRESS

APATHETIC DOMINIONS. NEW ZEALAND’S NEGLECT. LONDON, October 25. The attitude of the dominions towards the first World Power Conference, to bo held in London !n 1924, furnishes an example of Canada’s smartness in seizing opportunities for industrial development and the apapthy of Australia and New Zealand. The British Electrical and Allied) Manufacturers’ Association decided in 1921 to hold a conference at the Wembley Exhibition, co-operating with technical and scientific organisations throughout tho world, with a view to obtaining from Lhe greatest experts of all countries the latest information and ideas regarding power in all forms, particularly hydro-electric. The organising committee expected that the young countries would show eagerness to prepare for a great era of economics development. Australia, with her brown coal and wonderful Tasmanian water resources, and New Zealand, wihch iS’Tieveloping numerous hydro-electric schemes, were expected to display enthusiasm. New Zealand, however, did not reply to correspondence, and Australia appointed Sir Joseph Cook her delegate. Canada, on the contrary, jumped at the proposal. Realising that it was not a matter for politicians, she sent Mr Chains, the director of the Dominion Water Power Department, specially to Jyondbrr to discuss preliminaries. She also intends sending a big delegation of experts, Australia’s backwardness in the. present instance has amazed the organisers,- who draw attention to the fact that Australia and New Zealand are constantly sending officials on world tours to study the latest developments, particularly of transportation. Three tours are being arranged Jn connection with the conference, including the British Isles, Scandinavia, France,' Italy, and Switzerland. ; ) ' i Some of the world’s greatest specialists have already promised to address the conference, notably regarding Parson’s turbines, Redmayne coal, and Hadfield steel. Many American engineers will attend, and the organisers have specially invited; Mr Edison. Australian papers state that the ActingPrime Minister, Dr Earle Page, denied any apathy on the part of the Commonwealth Government towards the conference. The Government had already . arranged, through the Institute of Engineers, for Professor Hebblewhite, of Sydney University, together with Sir Henry ,Rarraclough, Professor Gibson, and' Mr Myers, of the New South Wales Railway Department, to prepare data concerning the power and resources of the comr&onwealth. No definite arrangements bad; Vet been made as to the manner of the actual submission of Australian data