OBSTINATE ACTION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20929, 7 January 1938, Page 5

OBSTINATE ACTION

SQUIRE REFUSES TO PERMIT ELECTRICITY LONDON, December 4. Tn three tiny Lincolnshire villages people still live and work by the light of oil lamps, as did their forefathers. There are no street lights. The reason is not the remoteness of the villages from any source of electricity supply—a local company is anxious to extend its service to include them —but the attitude of the village squire.

Mr J. H. Hope Barton, Master if Hounds and Squire of Saxby-all-Saints does not want an electric supply for the 500 villagers and farm dweller; of his estate, though he, himself, has a private electricity plant in his home at Saxby Hall, the ancient manor house.

Asked by the council why the electricity schemes were not proceeding more rapidly the local electricty council forwarded a letter they had received from Mr Hope Barton who wrote:

“I shall be glad if you will cause to be marked on your maps a ring aruond my estate which is for your company a prohibited area. I shall be glad of an apology for the annoyance caused me as salesmen blew into my office at a time very inconveiiient to my agent as he was extremely busy that day and it was lucky for them that I was not there myself or they would have been suitably dealt with.”

After referring to “the impertinent push of the salesman of to-day,” Mr Barton concluded: \ “I am sick to death of it and shall continue to raise Hades whenever it occurs.”