THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Minister pledges to bring electricity to more Ulster farms

The Minister of Commerce for Northern Ireland, Mr W V McCleery, speaking at demonstration of electrical farm equipment and household appliances in Ballymoney on this day in 1950 impressed on farmers that the rate of development in the Province depended on the amount of current being used.

The minister expressed regret that not more rural homes had not been electrified and he remarked that the Northern Ireland Government’s plan to spend £900,000 would enable a further 3,750 rural homes to be connected.

He said: “We are going to help the countryman all we can to get electricity brought to his home. But we look to him to help himself at the same time, not only by making the fullest use of electricity when he has got it, but also by making up his mind now what equipment he will install, and thus proving to the [Electricity] Board that they will get a reasonable return on their outlay.”

The minister also remarked that the introduction of electricity to Ulster farms would benefit more than just the farmers, he said: “The advantage of an increased supply of foodstuffs [because of the supply of electricity] at a cheaper cost of production will be of enormous benefit to the whole community. Therefore this question of supply of electricity to our farms is of national importance and must be approached from that angle.”