LOCAL BODIES AT VARIANCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19692, 20 January 1926, Page 3

LOCAL BODIES AT VARIANCE.

SCANT COURTESY ALLEGED “BARKING UP WRONG TREE.’’ An accusation of scant courtesy in its treatment of the Waihemo County Council was refuted at yesterday’s meeting of the Otago Electric Power Board. The Waihemo County Council forwarded a resolution protesting agaust the scant courtesy of treatment by file Power Board in not advising the council that no poles were to be erected on the roadline through Mr Sheat’s property from Bushey Bridge onwards. The council complained that it received information from an outside source instead of direct from the board. Mr P. Briscoe: Where does this “scant courtesy’’ come in? Mr Jaspar Clark (chairman): That is what I would like to know. Mr Briscoe ; They have received information from an outside source “The. man in the street?” interjected the chairman. Mr Briscoe that lie failed to see in what manner the board had been guilty oP scant courtesy in its treatment of the Waikvmo Council. Mr A. P. Aldridge (managing engineer) said that 'm. personally, objected to the suggestion of discourtesy. In previous letters regarding the erection of poles, the County Council had not made any definite complaint and information only h3d been asked for. The council had mistaken the Post and Telegraph Department’s poles for those of the board. The council had barked up the wrong tree. Mr Briscoe; We should have told them that. Turning to Mr W. B. Galloway, the Waihemo district representative, the chairman remarked: “It is your funeral,” and Mr Galloway agreed with him. Mr Clark said that the accusation had been made against the whole board, and the matter would have to be cleared. Mr F. Carson said that he would not waste time bothering over the council. The Chairman: Oh, no! They have .accused us of scant courtesy. On Mr ,T. Guest suggesting that the matter should bo referred to the member for the district, Mr Galloway said that the board had shown no discourtesy. Mr Briscoe supported Mr Guest, and maintained that a request for information was not scant courtesy. The County Council had made a mistake, apparently, bv taking notice of outside information. Mr Galloway should let the council know that ho was member for the district and was not to be ignored. Mr Gallowav:, The council is aware of my ronresentation. On the motion of Mr Briscoe, seconded by Mr Carson, the board decided to reply to the council that the board failed to see that there had been any scant courtesy in its treatment of the Waihemo Council.