PUBLIC OPINION.

Waikato Times, Issue 12868, 15 May 1914, Page 4

PUBLIC OPINION.

As expressed by correspondents, whos* letters are welcome, but for whos* views we have no responsibility. THE NEEDS OF HAMILTON AND CHEAP POWER. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —It was with pleasure 1 notice* in the Mayor's inaugural speech tha the question of electric power was ti be considered during the present year First of Hamilton's needs, to give i further stability and supplement its "in creasing industrial importance, is popu kit ion supported by local manufac tone*. The ba kbono of our present re sources is « ur (arm product. The conn try must, while markets are good, con tinue to be our chief support; but fo its own future prosperity, and- also ti reciprocate in a small way, the toui should manufacture many of the good: needed by ilie country, thereby incroas ing its own importance and improving the buying facilities of our largest pro (hirers—the farmers. Our geographical position is suol that Hamilton is an ideal distributing centre for a very large district. Man; of the goods now imported from over seas and the main ports could he manu factured to advantage locally, and . know of two or three enterprises that with a little encouragement, could b< induced to start factories in our town * Seeing that our need is populatioi and the wherewithal to support tin same, and with the idea of building foi the future. T would suggest that 0111 municipality should offer special in dueemonts to manufacturers by supplying cheap electricity, say on the foi lew ing basis: To any new industry needing powei up to 1< ! h.p.. for first two years free: for the following two years, half cost Any power over 10 h.p.,"Tor first twe years, half cost; second two years al net cost. i Factories already established to got the power at net cost price for three 3 ears. Electricity, with cheap motive power, i> not expensive to produce, and in Hamilton -ire the best facilities foi generating "the same at a low cost. Thr 'Government "has already Voiced its in- ; tehtion .of * r-lfowing municipalities tr harness* our waterways for" this purpose. . Again, locally there is an even more important adjunct to the promotion of a scheme for cheap generating power, as within speaking distance of Hamilton we have indispensable evidences of a good flow of natural gas. This gas may not be of sufficient volume to light a city, although I've seen many towns in other lands enjoying cheap lighting from a similar source, yet there -"ould be sufficient to drive a powerful geaerator plant at nominal cost. Realising the immense future benefit to the town, both financially and also, in ; n?reasid, population by the establishment of more factories, I am sure the ratepayers would favorably consider some such scheme as above. It is unnecessary for me to enumerate the many other advantages of electricity cheaply acquired and the uses it could be put to in such a way that, notwithstanding the call for free power, would make the proposal interest-bear-ing, ±o say nothing of-the advertisement our town would get throughout the Dominion.- > H, J> WERNHAM.