LOAN PROPOSAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 17 December 1936, Page 4

LOAN PROPOSAL

THE WAIMEA BOARD A PROGRESSIVE STEP FURTHER EXTENSIONS TO OUTE... AREA Tributes were paid by the chairman ot 'the Waimea Power Board (Mr F. \V. Greenslade) at the board's monthly meeting to all those who had assisteci in the carrying of tlie loan proposal of £70,000. ■me chairman said lie wished to express the board’s keen appreciation ot the services rendered in tne loan cam oaign by the consulting engineer (Mi j. g. Lancaster), the local committees, the board’s staff, and the press. Also ■„he board owed its-thanks to the Public Works Department and the Treasury in expediting approval of the loan and to the ladies who had co-operated in the demonstrations given at Tahuna and Richmond. The ladies' gatherings had been most interesting, and many questions had been asked on the appliances on view. Their interest showed that the women ot' the board’s district wished to have amenities on an equal basis as the service given in other parts of the Dominion. Referring to the local press, the chairman said that when it came to any scheme for the progress and benefit of the district, the press gave its fullest support, and the board recognised the service which had been given to the board and the district. The chairman read a message from the Motueka staff congratulating the board on the success or the poll.

Mr LI. E. Stephens moved that the board express its appreciation of the work done in the loan campaign by the board chairman, the consulting engineer, the staff, the local committees, and the press. Mr Stephens said all members of the board knew that Mr Greenslade had in the past few weeks practically lived for the campaign, to which he had given his whole time and energy. That his organisation had been good was shown by the result. Mr R. J. York seconded the motion, lie said it was gratifying to the whole district to see the progressive step taken. There was a difference of opinion on the board and it was pleasing to find at the meeting that day that those , members had been with the other members in putting the scheme into effect. He added a tribute to Mr Lancaster’s and Mr Greenslade’s work. .

Mr L. A. Higgins said it was hoped that those formerly opposed to the scheme would realise as the work progressed that the right course had been adopted. He paid a special tribute to the valuable work of the local committees.

Mr W. Max said he had been an obstructionist during the campaign, but there was now nothing for the board to do but to co-operate in gaining the best possible result from the money to be expended. The loan proposal must have had a strong appeal to the public as shown by the overwhelming majority. He would like to see the board, in the near future, push power into all the areas now requiring it; and he felt sure that the board would be unanimous in any such project. He congratulated the board members for the manner in which they had worked in the loan campaign. He was still a doubting Thomas, but when he was converted, he would be a real Christian.

The chairman thanked the board, members for their remarks. There had been little opposition during the campaign when the details were explained. The loan was only one more of the board’s hurdles. The board had now to put the scheme into effect and show the district that the board could give the people what had been promised them—a plentiful supply at a cheaper tariff, without any rate. The board’s task, especially in the pext few years, would probably not be an easy one. The board had made a definite promise to the people in the outer district, and to extend the service to them. He would be in favour of the board in the next few weeks going to Ngatimoti and other districts for the purpose of explaining future proposals to the people in those areas. The board would be able to give the district service, and he considered the board would be able shortly to take the next step in extending the service to the districts now not served. He felt sure it was the wish of the board to electrify and give service to the whole district.

Continuing he said he would prefer the board’s actions to be on a conservative basis. The board should proceed with caution and extend by sections, solidifying its position as it went.

Mr Lancaster said in electrical development work there was more in it to an engineer than j.ust earning his living. One was employed in the development of his country, and there was fascination in the work, which brought one in contact with all classes of the public. A loan campaign was not a matter to be feared so long as they had several things which had been the case in the Power Board’s proposal. Firstly it had to be a good proposition, and the board knew it was, and went about the campaign confident of success. The chief difficulty was found to be -a lack of understanding of the proposal, but in nearly all cases when the proposal was fully explained the people were in favour of the campaign. He congratulated the board on its achievement during the past year. In his opinion the biggest hurdle of the board had now been overcome. The engineers had regarded the Waimea Board’s business as a continuous steeplechase owing to the many hurdles to be overcome, but the biggest one had now been overcome, and he considered the board would now have a more successful future.

It was suggested by Mr L. A. Higgins that the board communicate with the Farmers’ Unions in the MoutereMotueka Valley and Tapawera districts with a view to arranging dates for meetings with the board. A motion to that effect was carried.