BROADCAST DEBATE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 301, 16 September 1936, Page 8

BROADCAST DEBATE

Addresses From Wellington and Invercargill > MINISTER v. POWER BOARD MEMBER By Telegraph—Press Association. Invercargill, September 15. Something new in broadcasting and of particular interest 'to Southland was carried out this evening. It took the form of a debate between Mr. S. Rice, a member of the Southland Electric Power Board and the Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Nash, on the question of the future control of the Southland power scheme. \ . Mr. Rice spoke first for 20 minutes from Invercargill, and Mr. Nash spoke for a similar period from Wellington, the addresses being broadcast from 4YA Dunedin and 4ZP Invercargill. Each speaker was then given ten minutes to reply. At present a postal ballot is being conducted throughout the Southland Power Board’s district on the following issues: (a) That the Government take over the assets and liabilities of the Southland Power Board’s undertaking; (b) that the scheme be retained by the board. The Government’s offer to take over the scheme has been rejected by the board, which is fighting to retain it. Tremendous interest is being taken in the ballot and campaigns for and against Government control are in full swing. The ballot closes at 1 p.m. on September 28.