HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22963, 19 August 1936, Page 10

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

THE SOUTHLAND DISTRICT GOVERNMENT CONTROL SOUGHT PETITION TO PARLIAMENT (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, August 18. A petition signed by more than 2000 ratepayers of the Southland electric power district praying that the Government should take over and administer the whole of the undertaking of the Southland Electric Power Board was presented to Parliament to-day by Mr W. M. C Denham (Govt., Invercargill) in association with other Southland members. The petition was referred direct to a special committee of the House which has been directed to examine the whole position and report back by Thursday. The text of the petition refers to the offer made by the Government last March to take over all the board’s assets and liabilities and to the decision of the board to take a referendum of the ratepayers on the subject. “ Although the resolution to take a referendum was subsequently rescinded,” the petition continues, “ the majority of the ratepayers and the residents of the district desire that the board’s undertaking should be taken over by the Government, and the petitioners request Parliament to take the necessary steps toward that end.” After the petition had been presented in the House the Minister of Finance, Mr W, Nash, moved that the following members should constitute the special committee to report on the matter: Mr D. Barnes (Govt., Waitaki), Mr J. G. Barclay (Govt., Marsdon), Mr J. G. Coates (Opposition, Kaipara), Mr L. G Lowry (Govt., Otaki), Mr W. M C Denham (Govt., Invercargill), Mr A Hamilton (Opposition, Wallace), Mr J. Hargest (Opposition. Awarua), Mr D. M’Dougall (Ind., Mataura), Mr J. W. Munro (Govt., Dunedin North) and Mr J. Thorn (Govt., Thames).