THE ELECTRIFICATION SCHEME.

Southland Times, Issue 18619, 18 August 1919, Page 4

THE ELECTRIFICATION SCHEME.

Wc must admit that we are at a loss to understand the attitude of the Borough Council in conn p ction with the preparation of the petition for the creation of the Southland Electric Power District. If the Council’s attitude is not hostile to the electrification scheme, it certainly appears to be so, and it is not easy to suggest any other reason why the Council should waste so much valuable time in coming to a decision. A month has passed since the Electrification Comrrjittee approached the Council in connection with the canvass for signatures to the petition within the borough, yet the Council has got no further forward than the arrangement of a meeting with the committee to-morrow night, after which we presume there will be a further delay until the question is disposed of in open council. It is exceedingly disappointing that those who have been working with such commendable. energy and enthusiasm find their progress halted by councillors who remain discreetly silent as to the cause of their inactivity and passive obstruction. It is strange that the Council should find itself in need of information that has been given the fullest publicity for long months past. There is nothing new to be learned at this stage, and councillors ought to be conversant with the information upon which the conference of members of all the Southland public bodies and of the Southland League decided, as far back as January 9, “to do all and everything necessary to have the Southland Electric Power District proclaimed, and in this connection to assist Mr Rodger in his canvass of the country districts and co-operate with the Borough Councils and Town Boards for the purpose of securing the proclamation of the district aforesaid.” In any case, even if councillors wished to make a closer investigation of the scheme, they should have taken up the question as one of urgency. There has been a suspicious absence of candour in the attitude of councillors, and it is time they were forced to show their hands. If the electrification scheme is to go on unnecessary delays must be avoided. Other districts are following Southland’s lead, and we want to maintain the advantage we at present hold as the result of all the organising work that has been done. A striking contrast is provided by the eagerness of the Dunedin City Copncil to support, the Otago Hydro-Electric Power Committee. A grant of £3OO towards the work of preliminary investigation has been passed and there is no question as to the attitude of the Council, which owns the prosperous Walpori scheme, towards the larger scheme which has been proposed for Otago. The Invercargill Borough Council is at present blocking the progress of a movement of the most vital concern to Southland, and it will find difficulty in justifying its action if• the question is properly represented to the ratepayers.