Power Board and City Council

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 188, 11 August 1936, Page 6

Power Board and City Council

DISPUTE NOT YET READY FOR COURT

BOAED MEMBERS DESIRE SPEEDY SETTLEMENT The dispute between the AlanawatuOroua Power Board and tho Palmerstou North City Council concerning the former’s charge for electricity supplied in bulk to the city, was tho subject of a brief discussion at a meeting of the board yesterday afternoon, when the information was elicited that it might be some weeks before the matter could come before the Supreme Court. From the City Council was received a choquo for £5135 Jos -Is for current for the quarter ending June 30, 1930, payment being made without prejudice. Mr J. A. Nash asked what was the position regarding the Court caso between the two bodies. ‘‘Can you give us any information?” he asked the managing secretary. Mr J. Boyce: There seems to be little doing. A report from the board s solicitor was read by the managing-secretary (Mr K. W. Egliuton). In it he stated that the papers had been prepared lor the special questions desired to be argued, but, due to Judges being on circuit, it might be some weeks before the case could be considered by the Court. The Palmerstou North City Council had asked for a declaratory judgment whether the Public l\orks Dcpaitmeul could charge .Id per unit lor the Power Board’s supply to the City Council. Mr Boyce asked whether there was auvthing further from the Minister of Public 'Yorks regarding the settlement of the dispute. ‘‘Mr Semple,” he added, ‘‘promised us that he would undertake to tlx up the argument with the Public Works Department for the .-Id penal charge and just leave the seivice charge for the Lower Board and the City Council to settle, but apparently nothing has been done in that direction. It seems to me that it is Mr Semple’s fault. If lie had no intention of going on with it, he should have said so. As far as 1 can gather, he made a statement and then made no attempt to carry it out.” Mr Nash said he understood that the Minister, when interviewed later, had stated that nothing could be done, and that the best thing would be to go on with the case. Mr N. Campbell pointed out that Wellington city was in the same position as Palmerston North. Mr Boyce: But we are not interested in Wellington. “Mr Semple said he would give his decision regarding the position of the Public Works Department provided a settlement was arrived at in regard to the other matter, between tho City Council and Power Board,” said Mr J. Hodgens, M.P. Mr Campbell: He knew that could not happen. “I did not take it that way,” stated tho chairman (Mr C. G. C. Dermer). “I took it that we could disregard the dispute between the Public Works Department and the C Council.” Mr P. G. Guy stated that, for the conferences the board had had with the City Council, the latter body had had as an adviser a man who was interested in the sale of gas appliances to the citizens of Palmerston North. Interrupting Mr Guy on a point of order, Mr Hodgens asked what this matter had .to do with the Power Board. The chairman (to Mr Guy): I do not know what you are going to say, but the matter does not seem to affect the Power Board. Mr Guy: He is interested in the sale of gas, and it would be detrimental The chairman: You are out of order. Mr Campbell expressed the view that the board should push on towards getting the dispute settled. “It is ridiculous having this hanging over us,” he added. The discussion closed with the chairman announcing that tho board's executive would go into the matter later in the afternoon.