CONTRACT WITH CITY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 296, 12 November 1934, Page 2

CONTRACT WITH CITY

SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY. POWER BOARD’S ATTITUDE. The proposal thrt the Mana«hr Oroua Power Board should p a j. friendly gesture by inviting tt*e merston North City Co unci . renee presented at a round-table j to discuss the rearrangement ot in contract, expiring on March . j for the supply of. electricity throu t the board to the city was advanced Mr M. A. Eliott at the monthly meet ing of the board this afterno ' r ,.*nt Mr Eliott stated that the an( j agreement would soon e * ij m j nar y the board might take „ „-ith steps for a round-table con satisthe object of reaching a factory agreement to both unwas useless to enter into a less it was acceptable to both the city and the board. Tho chairman (Mr C. G. mer): It has happened before. “And it might happen again, commented Mr Eliott, who said that to avoid such being the case the foundations might be laid for an agreenien which later could be elaborated upon. The time was now opportune, in view of the Supreme Court’s decision on the recent case, in which it was most unlikely that either party would P lo^ r further. Three members of each body could meet at an informal conference, he suggested. ■ The chairman said he thought the board would wait for such ovei ui be made by the City Council. Mr Eliott said they could ignore past events and go forward without recriminations. . . The chairman said he quite agreed that a mutual arrangement was veiy desirable. The board bad always si gin tied its readiness for a round-table conference, but the proposal laid been rejected by the City Council. “This continual bickering gets us nowhere,” observed Mr Vt . McKay, who said it was the board’s duty to notify the City Council that the agreement was expiring, and intimate that it was prepared to meet the council to discuss the matter of a renewal or negotiation of the contract on other mutually acceptable terms. It was a matter of business.

“I think that is the proper procedure to take,” said Mr P, G. Guy, in seconding a motion which Mr McKay moved on those lines.

The opinion was expressed by Mr N. Campbell that the matter should be held over until the full text of the Chief Justice’s judgment was before the board. It might give a lead as to what action should be taken in rearranging the contract, as that aspect had been referred to in the evidence.

“This continual throwing of bricks is no good either to the board of the country,” said Mr E. 0. Bond, who added that every effort should be made to reach a mutually' advantageous agreement. He appreciated Mr Eliott’s action in mentioning the matter. Whether the Court judgment affected the board adversely or not was beside the point. He assumed Mr Eliott’s sentiments were not prompted by the City Council. “I have not discussed the matter with them,” said Mr Eliott, who advocated that Messrs Dernier. Bond, and McKay represent the board at a conference to discuss the matter amicably from a broadminded and business point of view. The chairman: Is it for us to approach the city or for them to approach us ? Mr Eliott: If that attitude is adopted we will get no further. Mr Dernier: We did approach them before and were turned down. “I feel quite satisfied that the City Council will want to approach the board,” said Mr J. Hodgens, who added that lie objected to any' inference that a lead in the matter was not possible from the City Council. Mr J. Boyce stated that when the board last made such overtures it was turned down rather badly. Mr J. A. Nash, M.P. : What else could you expect ? Look at the resolutions y'ou passed at the same meeting. Mr Eliott: The board was very antagonistic then. Mr W. P. Bickers: I think the first movement should come from the City' Council.

Agreement with this view was voiced by Mr Campbell, who said that if the city authorities wanted the electricity they should come for it. He suggested that they should be notified that the contract was expiring, and that, if desired, the board would meet their representatives to discuss the matter. Mr McKay’s resolution that the City Council be notified that the contract was expiring and the board was prepared to meet their representatives, if desired, before the expiry' date, was carried, Mr Guy dissenting. Mr McKay said it was a childish point of view to expect the City' Council to approach the board. Mr Bond said the relationship in the past had been delicate, but a gesture of good business fellowship could be made.

“It is a pity- the resolution is not unanimous,” said Mr Eliott. “It still shows that some are antagonistic.” Mr Boyce: 1 object to that suggestion. I would not like Palmerston North to think we were so eager to renew the agreement on the same conditions as at present. Tho opposition was then withdrawn and the resolution carried unanimously.