POWER LOAN CARRIED

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 6 September 1929, Page 4

POWER LOAN CARRIED

FIVE TO ONE MAJORITY. FAVOURED BY ALL PARTS OF DISTRICT. BOARD EMPOWERED TO BUY OUT COMPANY. By a five to one majority at the poll taken yesterday, the ratepayers of the South Taranaki Electric Power District gave sanction to the board purchasing the undertaking of the Hawera County Electric Light Company, Ltd., and making additions and improvements to the system. Not in one of the 16 booths did the polling give less than the three-fifths’ majority necessary for the authorising of the loan. Good interest was displayed by the ratepayers in the poll, and of 2637 people on the roll eligible to vote, excluding natives, nearly half exercised their right. For the proposal 1062 votes were cast and against 206. Only six informal votes were recorded, this being due to the simplicity of -the issue. Good arrangements had been by the returning officer (Mr H. S. Elliott) to facilitate the preliminary count, and the figures for th c whole 'of the booths were announced at 6.45 o’clock. The checking of the rolls and the official count, with the examination of a few declaratory votes, was commenced this morning. D E TAILED FIGURES. Details of the polling are as follow: — For Agst. Inf. Hawera Borough .... 420 86 3 Normanby Town Dist. 50 7 —- Alanaia Town Dist. .. 59 11 —- Hawera <7’ty Office .. 189 46 I Okaiawa 37 14 1 Tokaora 14 4 1 Tawhiti 1.1 5 Wharcroa 7 1 —. Racecourse 8 1 —- Riverdale Factory ... 25 (> —, Waimate West C’tv Office 76 16 Otakeho 48 1 Oeo 1 15 Auroa 60 2 —i Kapuni 26 6 —- Kaupokonui 17 —,

Totals 1062 20-6 6 MR. AIURDO-GH ’S SATISFACTION. Interviewed last night on the result of the poll being made available, Mr J. B. .Murdoch, chairman of the board, expressed great satisfaction at tire position, and said that the board appreciated the decisive indication of the feelings of the ratepayers. The people had recognised their duty as citizens of the district and had demonstrated their appreciation of the possibilities of electrical development in -South Taranaki. “I may say,” Mr Murdoch went on, “that the people having carried this by the majority -they have, there is no fear that their elected representatives will not work their hardest to carry the work to a successful issue. I feel sure the result will improve the town in its position of centre of the district and -cement a better feeling between the town and country than lias been existent for some years past. “Further, I may say in regard to statements made concerning the prosperity of the district, that with good administration and attention to the requirements of the people, benefit: will accrue before very long after the board takes over control of the venture.

“A meeting of the hoard has been called for to-night for the purpose of considering the result of the poll and discussing the matter of facilitating and expediting getting into harness. ’’ Concluding, Mr Murdoch expressed appreciation of the assistance given by the Press in putting the proposals to the ratepayers.