STRAIGHT TALK

Grey River Argus, 13 May 1925, Page 3

STRAIGHT TALK

AT POWER BOARD The New Chairman MR D. TENNENT ELECTED. PUBLIC’S LACK OF CONFIDENCE. The Grey Electric Power Board hold its annual meeting last night, when there were present: Messrs H. Dugffan, C. Ucldstrom, D. Tennent, J. O’Brien, M.P., H. G. Carter, D. Baybutt, W. Leitch, .T, AV. Greciisiu do and A. Robinson.

Mr J. O’Brien immediately rose and stated that, owing to the death of the Prime Minister, and out of respect to his memory, the Board should merely transact the business that was absolutely essential, and then adjourn. He thought the appointment of a small committee to deal with tenders would meet the case. He would move in that direction.

Mr 11. Duggan seconded the motion. Here the Secretary (Air AL. J.. Fogarty) said that what was required first of all avis the election of a chairman Messrs Baybutt and Leitch agreed with the Secretary, and nominated Air D. Tennent. Air O’Brien: I think, gentlemen, we could well hold over the appointment of a chairman, if we merely appoint a small committee to go into the matter of accepting tenders, I really think we should adjourn out of respect to Air Massey’s memory, and consider rhe election of a chairman in a week’s time. Would that meet your views? Air Tennent: No; it would not. Afr O’Brien: Very weil then. You seem evidently set on the election of r chairman, so T will nominate ATr

Greenslade. At the recent election, Air Greenslade secured a very high vote indeed, and next to me he was at Ihe head of the poll. Tie has th? confidence of the ratepayers, and ’t would be a good thing for the Board if Mr Greenslade were elected. Continuing, Mr O’Brien said that the best tl big

that members could do was to get rid of all bickering and go aimad with .things. Be confessed quite candidly that he was disappointed. Tie had been hoping for a larger scheme, but seeing that things had progressed so far. the only possible tiling to do was to go ahead with the present scheme. Consequently. nil members should go together, an<\ work in the interests of the ratepayers. He was of opinion that the old Board had boon more or less misled, and the best way out of the difficultv was to appoint Mr Green’d:: do as ehairman. “However,” concluded the speaker. “T really think that wo should adjourn out of vc«poet to the memory of the late Prime Minister, and with the consent of (he mover of tin' motion, T will withdraw mv amendment. To meet present requirements, T suggest that we elect a temporary chairman. Would that meet the '\ase ?

Mr Tennent: No: it would not. LACK OF CONFIDENCE. Afr O’Brien: Then lot me tell you that (his Board has not the confidence of the ratepayers. A' O’Brien also referred to the fancier rf the National Electrical Engineering Company, in presenting a report to the Board that was not worth twopence, and y f, t in the face of that, that Company was always favoured in respect to tenders. The speaker alto stated that it appeared to him then? was ar unnoces°arv amount of haste in getting certain contracts signed before the late election came along. Mr Tennent: No! Mr O’Brien: Tn the minutes of April 21st, it is recorded that the late chai r man and Afr Perkins were appointed to sign contracts with the National Electrical Engineering Company. On April 28th, the night's before the election, a meeting was to he held to accept certain tenders.

The speaker also stated that, no matter what was brought forward,, there was going to be no “get-out” of the steam plant scheme. Mr Tennent Called to Order. AH the time Afr O’Brien was speaking, Afr Tennent kept on interrupting until Afr Duggan rose to a point of order. Mr Duggan: I rise to a point of order. Afr Tennent, don’t keep on interjecting, and interrupting Afr O’Brien, please. All the. time he has boon speaking, you have been inter rupting. It is not fair. Afr O’Brien: Don’t mind him. Air Duggan. Afr Carter: It’s a pity we can’t do without this. The reporters are taking notes. Afr Baybutt: Why not get along with the election of ehairman. Afr O’Brien: I did not want to go ahead with the election of chairman. I wanted to pay respect to our deceased Prime Minister, and adjourn all business for a week or fortnight. Mr Tennent, however, thinks otherwise, and is anxious that we should appoint, a chairman to-night. If the Board wants the confidence of the ratepayers in both town and country, they will appoint Mr Greenslade. Hero Mr Carter took an opportunity of welcoming the new members of the Board, and in doing so expressed regret at the absence of Mr Doogan. who. he said, worked hard and long for the Board, and carried a large share of the ’burden on his own shoulders. , ... Mr Duggan then rose to second the amendment moved by Mr O’Brien, that

.Mr Greenslade be appointed Chairman, and thanked Mr Carter for extending a welcome to the new members. “let; us have light and power as soon as possible,” said Mr Duggan. (Hear bear). “I am convinced that the old Board Jost the confidence of the ratepayers. Mr Greenslade is holding public positions in Greymouth, ami is holdin" them fearlessly. I don’t think we could appoint a better man. Mr Baybutt: On behalf of the coun-

try members, I must say that, we havo done our best. I move again that Mr D. Tennent be appointed chairman. Mr Leitch again seconded. On a show of hands being taken, three voted for Mr Greenslade —Messrs C. IMdstrom, J. O’Brien, and 11. Duggan. Mr Tennent was thus elected chairman of the Board by four votes to three, those voting for him being Messrs D. Bavbutt., A. Robinson, IT. C. Carter and W. Leitch.

Mr Tennent, in thanking the members for electing him, stated that it. was easy to criticise the work of the Board. "When the National Electric ’Company made its grave blunder, it also made just amends. Mr O’Brien: Did you see the report. Mr Tennent: Yes; 1 saw it. Mr O’Brien: I don’t seem to be able to find it.

Continuing, Mr Tennent stated that three companies were now looking for power, and they would more than pay the interest and sinking fund on the £BO,OOO to be expended. The site chosen was a central one, .and the Board was in an absolutely independent position. The late Chairman had been disinterested. He (the speaker) would much sooner change positions with Afr Doogan that night. Afr Doogan had no axe to grind, and lie (Afr Tennent) was very sorry indeed that ho had been defeated at the late election.

“You can talk all night.” After the chairman had sat down, Afr Greenslade rose and asked if he had a right to speak. The Chairman: We are going to move an adjournment till next week, and then you can speak all night if you like, and I will sit here all night to listen to you. Mr Greenslade: You should have thought of the adjournment before, as Mr O’Brien suggested. T elai m Hm right to speak on this matter Other members have, otherwise I would not

' • " '' < • I U 11 () L nsk to be allowed to do so. The Chairman: If tllis meeting stands adjourned till a later date, J "ill sit here all night anfl listen to you. -Mr Greenslade: I have n message from the ratepayers, and f claim the privilege of speaking. That message must be delivered to-night. The Chairman: Then we might as well have it now as waste time over it. Afr Greenslade: T congratulate von on being elected chairman. Before T came hero to-night, T know it was a

foregone conclusion—that it was all “cut and dried,” and T don't think you have taken into consideration the feelings of the people at the election. Regarding the procedure of the old Board, T must say that there is a lot of uneasiness in the minds of the people of Groynnouth regarding the proceedings of th<? Board during the past two years. Tt is no earthly use proceeding on the lines of the o ld Board. We must take the people into our eon idenee. Thorp has boon grave suspicion in the minds of the publie. It has not been a petty suspicion. The system adopted by the Board has juctitled the ratepayers in holding that suspicion. Wo are only directors, and the ratepayers are the shareholders. T maintain that we should hand to the papers a detailed report of all money spent, and what has been done so far. There has been a lot of talk about reports, but nobody has seen them. If there arc reports, the public should know where they are. Afessrs O’Brien and Duggan: Hear bear. “Don’t talk twaddle.” Afr Greenslade: Tf you are a private company, and you do not take th* s shareholders into your confidence, where are you going to land? I want to see an itemized statement of expenditure published. Wo seem to have ar raigned ourselves against each other. The Chairman: Who did it then? Afr O’Brien: Don’t talk twaddle.

You did it before you came into the meeting. Afr Greenslade: Tt is a very nasty feeling to have. The Chairman: Then don’t d any further. Afr Greenslade: Allow me to tell you Afr Tenment that if you bring your si 1? forward, T will bring mine. And wo should brin-r forward n report to lot the pnblie krow what is being done. Mr O’Brien: Hear hoar.

Later on during the consideration of tenders. Mr O’Brien stated that the Board should take time to eonsiiMr the tenders. Hardwood poles might be wanted at one.e. but surely the sunplv of copper cables could stand over for a week. He moved that a committee be set up to go into the tenders carefully. This was not agreed to. The tender of Messrs .T. A. ?< path and Sons at £3981 Ils 4c. " the supply of hardwood poles, was eepted. Nine tenders were reeled Messrs Turnbull and ten r at £4461 5s for th" suprV •cables was accepted. - d "7 0 86. HighdcnSion insulators was reeomu rX P XV(B"- —) M

£ll7B 15s was accepted. Afr Greenslade questioned the wisdom. of this action. He thought that, seeing there was a. difference of £2OO between the tow tenders, the lower one should have been accepted. Messrs Turnbull and Jones’ tender [ at £323 2s was accepted for low ten- ‘ si on insulators.