A STEP FORWARD

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20674, 12 March 1937, Page 9

A STEP FORWARD

ADVENT OF ELECTRICITY TO DARGAVILLE By leiegrßUh Press Association DARGAVILLE, March 11. In illumination of candle, kerosene lamp and gas light, instancing the stages which have been experienced to provide light in the darkness, representative speakers yesterday welcomed the advent of electricity to Dargaville and district. The final speaker was the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple), who, after a short speech, pressed a switch mounted at the back of the stage, illuminating three ornamental lamps suspended from the top of the proscenium and a string of coloured lights. Anything he had done in assisting t~ bring electricity into the home and workshop was just his plain duty, said Mr Semple. "As a public man at the head of the Public Works Department at present, it is my duty to render service to the people of this country wherever there is a demand. When one does that to the full as far as ability, capacity and judgment are concerned with the money at his disposal, and has gone all the distance, he has played the game. I like to meet the man who says, ‘My father used a candle, so why can’t I?’ He makes me stone cold. He was snivelling when he was bom and will w'hen he dies.”