10 JANUARY 1920, Page 3

A hydro-electric supply company is promoting a Bill which would

authorize it to take possession of considerable portions of Dartmoor, and to oonstract reservoirs and water-channels which would inflict grave injury on the commoners and spoil the scenery that we all know and love. If the effect of the Bill is correctly represented in the protests of Mr. Eden Phillpotta and other Devonians which have appeared in the Times, it would ruin Dartmoor as a pasture and as a holiday ground. We hope that the Devonshire people and all others interested will organize a strong opposition when the Bill coma; before Parliament. The Prince of Wales, as life-tenant of the estates of the Duchy of Cornwall, including Dartmoor, has power to withhold his consent from any Bill affecting the Duchy's lands. But the onus of rejecting the Bill should not be put upon the Prince. The Bill raisee a large question which Parliament should determine. The natural resources of the country must be developed, of course, but we should be sorry to sacrifice Dartmoor for the sake of one new industry.