REFERENDUM WANTED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 253, 22 July 1936, Page 10

REFERENDUM WANTED

Sale of Power Scheme to

Government

SOUTHLAND RATEPAYERS’ TAKE ACTION By Telegraph—Press Association. Invercargill, July 21. The right of ratepayers to vote on the proposed taking over by the Government of the Southland Electric Power Board’s Monowai scheme was expressed to the board to-day by a deputation of 20 representatives appointed by a public meeting held at Invercargill 10 days ago and by a number of meetings held in different parts of the province during the past week. Several speakers expressed what they said were very strong opinions of ratepayers throughout Southland, and it was said that 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 them to the finance committee with instruction to present a report including, if thought necessary, the conditions under which a referendum would be taken, to a special meeting of the board within a, fortnight. . . . . Members of the deputation which waited on the board met later and unanimously passed a motion that a petition be drawn up and circulated in the Southland Power Board district asking the Government to take over the scheme.

RATE ABOLISHED

Financial Decisions of Board

By Telegraph—Press Association. Invercargill, July 21. A decision to abolish the rate, for the current year, to make provision for the transfer of £lO,OOO from the separate account to the sinking fund, and to work on overdraft if necessary, was made by the Southland Electric Power Board to-day. It was said by the mover of the motion, Mr. W. McChesney, and other speakers that it was recognised by the board as well as by the ratepayers that tlie rate had always been a big handicap to the popuiarity 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.