REFERENDUM URGED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 172, 22 July 1936, Page 11

REFERENDUM URGED.

POWER WORKS TRANSFER.

FEELING IN SOUTHLAND

(By Telegraph. —Press Association.)

IXVERCARGILL, Tuesday.

The riglit of ratepayers to vote on the proposed taking over by the Government of the Southland Electric Power Board's Monowai scheme was urged upon tho board to-day by a deputation of 20 representatives appointed by a public meeting held in Invercargill 10 days and by a number of meetings held in different parts of the province during tlio past week.

Several speakers expressed what they said were the very strong opinions of ratepayers throughout Southland, and it was said that the members of the deputation had preparations in train for further action to force a referendum if the board refused to grant the request.

The representations were discussed fully by the board and a motion was carried referring tlie-m to the finance committee with instructions to present a report, including if thought necessary the conditions under which 9. referendum would be taken, to a special meeting of the board within a fortnight. The members of the deputation which waited on the board met later and unanimously passed a resolution that a petition should be drawn up and circulated in the Southland Power Board district asking the Government to take over the scheme. A decision to abolish the rate for the current year, to make provision for the transfer of £10.000 from the separate account to the sinking fund and to work on overdraft if necessary was made by the board. It was said by the mover of the motion, Mr. W. McChesney, and other speakers, that it was recognised by the board as well ns the ratepayers that the rate had always been a big handicap to the popularity of the Monowai scheme. It had been reduced from time to time and business had improved to such an extent now that the board was justified in doing away with this very real cause for dissatisfaction. The motion was carried by nine votes to two.