THE GREY RIVER ARGUS FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 1925. THE GREY POWER BOARD.

Grey River Argus, 24 April 1925, Page 4

THE GREY RIVER ARGUS FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 1925. THE GREY POWER BOARD.

Ihlcie gtiing out of nflice. the iimmbci’s <tf 11n (li'i’v Power Board, in furthej’. amt t>f the decision taken by then, shortly after they were appointed, ar.* doing all they possibly can to coinpioinisc anil constrain the Boards which arc to coim* after them. N<>_ lmd\ would thereby ii e persuaded that Ih'* retiring members consider their police has been one to commend itKo]f by its own merits to the commuui:y. since Ihe change over from hydro I . M ca m—upon the a<|\icf of an engineer whose report the ratepayers did liitir best Io ha\'e an independent engineer confirm —the present Boar<L laughing at all criticism, have got;imirily on their way. calling tender- 1 aiW letting contracts. To such a pa has this course been hurried. that, upon its election on the 29th of this month, the new Board will Jind little more has been left Io its decision .•]’ 'lisciution than an obligation to accept and administer agreements, all ul and finalised. It is now a matter of which have previously been laid down history as to how the Board has dealt wi'h advice, criticism and opposition; but tine thing ■which the general public cannot forget is the fact that, when a |“tition signed by nu fewer than SOO ratepayers, was submitted to the Ministi; of Publie Works, asking merely that the plans of the Board’s engineer be checked before a license should beJ granted, by an independent engineer, the reply of the Chairman of the Board ignored the point of Ho* petition ami ! instead challenged some 200 of the I names <>n the petition. What names I were challenged, indeed the petitioners ft this day do not know. Probably | if 'hey did. many (1 rev mout h residents would ask jiertinent questions as to why their names were oiiestioned... ’ Bonn! members complain that the <l<Tnands for an independent engineer ■ wei-c almsive. but do they forget that [those who sought an independent re_ I poi’l were termed by the <'hnirman «>f the Board “yapping dogs?'' Abu.:-? is certainly no argument tor citin’' | si'ii . Nor is it fair that the rateI payers should be blinded to the real fad. of any matter or c.ommilment ;n I which they are to be called upon to : foot the bill! That members of the Board knew quite well they Averc going against public opinion is apparent from the fact that three of them are not seeking re-election. Yet, just before they arc going out of office, these same members meet and accept tenders for tije erection of a. power station. Worse that' this is the proposal that, the town members of the Board are to meet on the 28th of this month—-the day before the election —and deal with tenders for the supply of poles, transformers, switch gear, fuses, ammeters, etc. If this' proposal is earned out, Ih<* mem-

ber responsible lor it. w ill •Icmim.'trai e 1 heii loss of all sense of tesponsi bilit y. || would appear that with certain defeat' staling them in the face, the retiring Board members have decided i-j make it as hard as possible fo*r the new members t" tackle and clear up the mm.dling of the past. If the publii I do their duty on election day, and select those who guarantee to take the ralcpavers into their con lit.lencc and <o’l awav .from the hole and corner hi.'H.hls, .Messrs Greeiislri'le Bi"i,ell :in,! O’Brien will be returned. Then, ami I n ,,| (ill then, will the Grey public know ’where they stand in relation to Ihe (irev Lower Board.