Electricity development
A LARGELYattended meeting of delegates from practically all the governing bodies in Otago was held under the auspices of the Otago Expansion League in the City Council Chambers last night with the object of discussing the advisableness of urging on the Government the necessity for taking steps to develop the electric power of the province. Among those present were the Hon. G. M. Thomson and Mr C. E. Statham, M.P.
Mr J. Loudon (chairman of the Electrical Committee of the Otago
Expansion League) said that the Waipori scheme would not meet the wishes of the conference. A much larger scheme was necessary to suit the needs of the whole of the province.
We all recognised that it was from the country that we got our wealth. During late years the tendency had been for the country people to take up their residence in the towns, and the Otago Expansion League advocated a scheme of hydroelectric energy as a means to prevent this migration. In the South Island alone, 3,200,000 horsepower was going to waste annually.
The Southland people were promoting legislation which would have the result of placing the hydroelectric power in the hands of local bodies. If a cheap, flexible, and efficient power were introduced it would create its own demand . . .
The speaker moved — (1) ‘‘That this conference, practically representing the whole of the local bodies and
population of the province of Otago, respectfully asks the Government to obtain without delay a report from its responsible advisers as to the various sources in this district which will provide an adequate and efficient power to assist in the general development and advancement of the province. (2) That this conference is of the opinion that the policy as indicated by the Minister of Public Works in reply to a recent deputation — that Otago cannot look for any expenditure in the direction of developing our hydroelectric power until a North Island scheme is completed — is an injustice to this part of the country, and strongly urges that in any scheme undertaken in the interests of the dominion as a whole, and as a means of replacing the ravages of the great war by developing our latent resources to the fullest extent, Otago should participate simultaneously with other parts of the dominion.’’
The resolutions were adopted.