THE WAITAKI ELECTRIC POWER BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23081, 6 January 1937, Page 11

THE WAITAKI ELECTRIC POWER BOARD

TO THE EDITOR Sir, —I would like to know what is the reason for all this hush-hush policy that has recently been adopted by the Waitaki Power Board. It has come to my ears that large increases of salaries have been given recently, independent of the restoration of the 1931 10 per cent, cuts, and that a superannuation scheme has been inaugurated to suit certain individuals—a scheme that is not very popular with some of the rest of the staff, as there is some doubt whether the best scheme was adopted. Now, why all this silence on these matters in your reports? There is also the question of the street lighting charges. This matter was inquired into by Mr Finch, who is a fully-qualified accountant, on behalf of the Oamaru Borough Council, and his report stated that an enormous profit was being made. The board replied stating that it was making a large loss. It is quite obvious that both statements cannot be correct, and the ratepayers have a right to know what is the true position in regard to this matter, but silence prevails. Just recently the board borrowed £17,000, and now it is asking for another £15,000, with very vague information in regard to what it is required for, and, for some reason or other, the board appears to be in a big hurry to obtain it. It was first mentioned, I believe, at the meeting in November. Then, if I remember rightly, the amount was to be £IO,OOO, and at the December meeting it was £15,000, and the board is expecting that this loan proposal will be ratified at its January meeting, after availing itself of some new law which evidently enables a local body to borrow without a poll being taken, unless 5 per cent, of the ratepayers protest. Now, I ask whether it is fair to bring forward a loan proposal during the time when the business people are coping with the Christmas rush of business and have not the time to consider the question properly, as they ought. This is a large amount of capital to be required for alterations, etc., in such a short time after the inauguration of the scheme. The members of the board who are the ratepayers’ representatives should stop this hush-hush policy.—l am, etc.. Ratepayer. •% Oamaru, January 3. tWe are informed by the chairman of the board that there has not been, nor is, a “ hush-hush policy about the board’s operation. “Ratepayer” himself refers to the public statement made last November concerning the rapid expansion of the board’s business supported by adequate guarantees of the necessity of further loan requirements to keep pace with the demand. All publicity is given month by month of the work in hand. The only restoration of salaries has been that required bv recent legislation. The superannuation scheme is, with minor variations, that in force with other local bodies. It was approved by those of the staff who are interested in superannuation, and a paper on it was read at the Power Boards’ Conference (secretaries’ branch) and was well received. The street lighting controversy has been settled, as reported by us. at a recent Borough Council meeting. It is unfortunate that our correspondent reads in the oft-repeated public advertisement that the purpose of the new loan is “ alteration to lines, etc.,” instead of the correct wording “ extension to lines, etc.”—a quite vital difference.— Ed.. 0.D.T.l