POWER BOARDS’ CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22367, 14 September 1934, Page 10

POWER BOARDS’ CONFERENCE

■ -*s>- ■ PROPOSED CENTRAL AUTHORITY TOWN V. COUNTRY INTERESTS. (Feb United Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 13. At the annual conference of Electric Power Boards and Supply Authorities’ Association Mr W. J. Holdworth (Auckland) introduced a proposal for a development board with a permanent secretariat. The proposal revealed a strong division between town and country. Mr J. O’Shea (Wellington City Council) voiced the feeling of the recently formed Municipal Supply Authorities’ Association as being totally opposed to the establishment of any such organisation. Supporting the proposal, Mr Dash (South Canterbury) said the lack of a central authority giving cohesion and continuity was the reason for the breakaway of the municipal supply authorities. Mr O’Shea said that if they were going to get anywhere it would not be by American gct-rich-quick methods. It was going to be by economy. Economy should be the watchword of the supply authorities as it had been of the muni-' cipalities. He suggested that if reticulation -were required in sparsely populated areas the cost should be borne by the Consolidated Fund in the same way as the Government took over the reading of backblocks. After a very long discussion the motion was altered to read that the report of the sub-committee be adopted and referred to the executive for the formulation of a definite scheme which would be submitted to the boards for approval, the executive to have power to act if supply authorities agreed to the proposals. Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., was again reelected president, defeating Mr W. J. Holdsworth, of Auckland, in a ballot. The following were appointed to the executive: —Messrs G. A. Monk (Horowhenua), F. Purnell (WanganuiRangitikei), W. J. Holdsworth (Auckland), W. Hinchey (Southland), A. C. Pearce (Wairarapa), G. Dash (South Canterbury), A. C. Russell (Central Hawke’s Bay), E. F. Nicoll (Ashburton), J. T. Johnson (Te Awamutu), A. E. Russell (Otago), S. Blackley (Hutt Valley), M. Cable (North Island supply authorities), E. Hitchcock (South Island supply authorities), H. F. Toogood (Engineers’ Association) and D. M'Arthur (Secretaries’ Committee). DIVISION IN THE RANKS MEETING TO BE HELD. (Peb United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, September 13. A move designed to bring about a reconciliation between the recentlyformed Municipal Supply Authorities Association and the Electric Power Boards and Supply Authorities Association of New Zealand was made at to-day’s conference of the latter body. A resolution was carried expressing regret at the possibility of a division in the ranks and a weakening of the prestige of the organisation, and expressing the hope that some means would be found to enable power boards and municipal supply authorities to continue to express vie M’s with one voice. The president, Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., announced later in the day that he had been in communication with the president of the new association, Mr T. C. A. Hislop, and it had been agreed to convene a meeting of representatives of both bodies to see if the breach could bo healed.