HYDROELECTRIC POWER.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15133, 30 January 1917, Page 7

HYDROELECTRIC POWER.

MANAWATU REQUIREMENTS. INTERESTING TO WANGANUI. The sub-committee set up by the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce to ascertain as far as possible th,* requirements of the district in the matter of hydro-electric power, sent out circulars to users of power to the number of 100, principally in the . Borough of Palmerston North. In addition copies of the circular were sent to the following local bodies, with the request that they should take similar action, viz;— Feilding Chamber of Commerce, Manawatu, Oroua, and Horowhenua County Councils; Feilding, Levin, and Otaki Borough Councils; and Shannon Town Board. Replies were received from several of the local bodies that have so far held meetings ; since the receipt of the circular, all promising to assist the project as far as possible. After reading a report the president (Mr Hoclder) dwelt upon the success which had attended the installation of the Lake Coleridge scheme, and quoted authoritative reports from manufacturers as to its benefits, and said what they wanted to do notv was to get some indication from the Government as to where the power was coming from and how long it was likely to be before it was installed. It remained with them to combine with Wellington ‘and other parts of the coast to arouse public opinion and get a conference oL.local bodies to impress upon the Government the necessity of doing something and doing it early. A letter was received from the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce intimating that they were holding a conference on the question on Wednesday, March 2, and inviting the Chamber to send a. delegate. Mr Crabb moved; That this meeting directs the Electric Committee to-ar-range a conference at as early a date as possible of "delegates from all the local bodies, etc., between Otaki and Martoa for the purpose of discussing the needs of the district re the supply of electric power, and that a deputation be sent from that conference to wait upon the Minister of Public Works. Mr Crabb ;said Wanganui was already moving and had convened a conference, and Wellington was also interesting itself in the matter. He thought it would bo as welt for the different centres to first hold their conferences and then send two or three delegates to wait upon the Minister. He (Mr Crabb) had been given to understand that the Governmen had in view the Mangahao scheme for the whole of this coast. Wanganui, he believed, contemplated embracing Taranaki in its scheme of operations. That was why he suggested that in the meantime the Palmerston Chamber should take Marton as its boundary. Electrical power had already revolutionised Taranaki, and had contributed to the work, cleanliness, and comfort of those engaged in the dairy industry. • There fore they should seek the co-operation of the farmers and the dairy companies and the Farmers’ Union, in their movement here. The flaxmillers should also be represented. Members of Parliament must be asked to* use their influence. They did not want a pledge, but they did want to know what ’they were doing and where their plans were leading them to. If the Government was not prepared to act they should give the local bodies a free hand. They would find the money. As things were Wellington was in danger of losing its manufactures to Canterbury because of the pull that electric power gave to 'the ‘southern t. .n. Palmerston, with its central position, would attract manufacturers if power were available. Already the Nestle Company proposed to spend -■6250,009 here when the war was over. That was only the first of them. Captain Preoce could not disclose certain information, but he assured the Chamber tnat the Mangahao scheme would embrace Wanganui‘and Wellington and include the Wairarapa. It was decided, on the motion of Mr Crabb, that a conference he called at Palmerston on Thursday, February 22 at 2.30 p.m. ' J It was also resolved that Wanganui be_ asked to send delegates, and that Mr Seifert be asked to represent Palmerston North at the Wangaffui conference.