ELECTRIC CURRENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19814, 4 December 1919, Page 5

ELECTRIC CURRENT.

THE DEPARTMENT’S POLICY CRITICISED. Criticism of the policy of the Public Works Department marked a discussion at a meeting of the executive of the Canterbury Progress League last evening on the supply of electrical energy to country districts, and it was decided to make strong representations on the subject, fho -‘.-ague’s organiser (Mr P. 11. Gl.mie) referred to the motion passed at a previous meeting:—“ That, this executive strongly urges that the Public Merits Department is in duty bound to carry electric current to a convenient distributing centre in each power district, and protests against the reported intention of the Department to carry the mains no further than a. county boundary.“ Mr (Tunic said 1 that, as the present Minister of Public Works was busy adjusting af-1 fairs before retiring from oltice, he did not have a great deal to report. Tito local bodies behind the KllesmeieSpriugs scheme had been informed in t-lfcci that the Department saw no reason why it should depart from its pre-viously-expressed intention to supply local bodies and power boards at their boundaries and not at or near the chief centres of their distribution, making the stipulation that such extension of the line promised to be profitable. Mr A. G- Henderson, who occupied the chair, said that the action taken by the Department now in regard to the development of the electrical supply scheme was going to determine its policy for the whole of New Zealand. The league ought not to rest content with the kind of policy carried out by the Department in the past. That policy did not satisfy his sense % of whatwas right. The Department should not

wait until a district' was settled before moving into it with means of communication or supplies of power. The surest way to develop the demand for power was to cam- the power into a district and offer it to the people- at a reasonable rate. The Department, took the opposite view' - —until the. demand arose it was not willing to attempt to take the power in. That policy directly discouraged efforts on the part of local bodies towards the development of tlie system. The Department was out of touch with the feelings of the- country. The' executive’s resolution should ho sent to the Public Works Deportment, and they should get a- direct statement of policy. They should go ahead whatever Minister was in office, so that the Department would know that the league would battle for what it thought the right thing for Canterbury. They should also direct the attention' of every local body and every extension league to the action they were taking on the matter, as it concerned every local body over' the whole Dominion* If the .Department’s reply was unsatisfactory*, they should follow it up without delay, and not mince matters or hesitate to use strong language, if necessary. The principle was the most important that had been before them since they became a league. Mr G. T, Mulcook said that- the executive should ho sure of the ground it was treading on. While h§?dicl not altogether support the Department’s policy, there might be a good deal in what it said.

Mr G. H. Jndd said that they had been given to understand that, before the Department- would extend ihe scheme in the Ellesmcre-Springs district, it would have to he shown that it was going to bo a profitable proposition Where, would the country ho if that policy had been adopted in regard to roads and railways. The people of his district were very disheartened over the matter. More there a. proper extension of the power scheme, new industries would flourish in the country districts and people would not ho encouraged to congregate in the towns. Tho speaker condemned the Government’s lack of enterprise. Mr J. B. Laurcnson moved-- 11 That the Progress League should forward to the Department the resolution passed at last- meeting, and urge the necessity of the Department at once dearly sotting out its policy in connection with the extension of electrical power to country districts.” Mr Judd seconded the motion. Mr Climic mentioned that, before the Industries Commission, .Mr Barry, Government electrical engineer, had said

that no one could tell what industries would conio until they developed the potter scheme. Now the present riiyineor said that the Department would not put down a line until they were sure it was going to pay its way. Mr .A. F. Wright said that the Department must be prepared to undertake a progressive policy. If not, a separate and distinct Department would have to he set up to carry out tho scheme lor tho benefit of the country. Ihe matter should he placed before candidates at the election. Mr C. M. Ollivior said that since Mr i. Jury had gone the. Department- was going back to the old stylo. Thov would have to get energetic men to undertake the work, Ilj K experience went to show that, alter putting in the power, tho deuuuid for it was absolutely wondoru.. Liitil the Department was run on business linos, it would never succeed. J. A, hlesher said that in Christi.nuich .he .supply of power could not keep pace with the demand. '1 he.v were rti I waiting for a third pipe line and oxtra machinery. 1 he motion was carried imainnously. ana it was also decided than, the organiser snould endeavour to ascertain when the, new machinery for Lake Coleridge was expected to arrive.