HYDRO-ELECTRICITY

Grey River Argus, 18 April 1929, Page 5

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY

LOAN APPROVED YESTERDAY'S POLL Substantial Majority The ratepayers, in tile Grey Power Board district, al yesterday’s polling, approved of the £llB,OOO loan for the Arnold Biver hydro-electricity scheme by 707 votes to 373, the necessary three fifths majority thus being secured. The poll is considered to be a record one, but despite this fact the returns show that a large proportion of the ratepayers were apathetic regarding the issue, and did not bother to record their votes. This. is particu larly noticeable so far as the Town booths are concerned. In Greymouth with a total of 1047 ratepayers, only 496, barely 50 per cent, went to the poll, and an even smaller proportion of ratepayers voted mt Cobden and other town areas.

There was only a comparatively X small majority in favour of the schema pB in Greymouth, but it was ttrongly sup poited in Cobden, Runanga, Brunner and the Smaller townships, particularly in the country districts. Polling proceeded steadily through out the day, and for some considerable time before the poll closed, the main booths were deserted. Barely a third of the ratepayers ex excised their franchise. The total of votes cast was 1089; the total number of ratepayers on the roll being 330.1The returns from the principal booths were available about 7 p.m., the neces* sary majority being then assured. Thi complete returns were available about 7.45 p.m. When interviewed, after the result of the poll was announced, Mr J. W. Grenslade, Chairman of the Grey Powe* Board, said he was natJuriilly very pleased about it. The voice of the people had spoken, and whatever the future might hold in /tore for them, he was sure that they would never regret the decision they had made. ’ Details of the polling at the various booths are as follows: —

For Agnst. Infor’ 1 Town Hall 118 <H 4 Town Hall HO 90 2 County Office 16 18 Unitpl Pavilion 39 35 3 Crijtffleu 95 16 — RiKanga 139 39 — South Bench 4 3 — Paroa 26 6 — Camerons 5 1 — Westbrook 22 — Hohonu 3 Kotuku 9 1 — Moana 6 1 — Kokiri 20 0 — Inchbonnie I 1 — Rotomanu 15 1 — Poerua 3 2 — Te Kinga 4 3 —■ Totara Flat 14 6 — Ahaura 11 H —• Blackball 44 42 — Nelson Creek 9 7 — Ngahere 11 3 — Brunner 36 16 — Kaiata 10 2— Totals 707 373 9 The numbers of ratepayers in the various boroughs, town board districts, and county ridings arc as follows: — Boroughs.— Grey mouth 1047, Brunner 193, Runanga 359. Town Board District — Cobden 253. Riding**.— Cobden 138, Wa'iMtina 171, Brunnerton 363. Nelson <Week 130, Rod .Tacks 174, Paroa 220. Maori Creek 65, Marsden 52, Hehonu 136.