THE WAIPORI PLANT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24607, 15 May 1941, Page 12

THE WAIPORI PLANT

TO THE EDITOR

Sir,—-Not content with trying to disparage present members of the City Council, Dr McMillan has now attacked those of 1926-29, nearly 50 per cent, of whom are now dead.

At his meeting at Anderson’s Bay last Friday night he said that the Government had not initiated the negotiations for the purchase of Waipori head works during the years mentioned, but that the first move had been made by the City Council after the pipe lines slipped. There is absolutely no excuse for such a statement as full details of the whole transactions are given in the city departmental reports for 1928-29 and 1929-30. On page 75 of Mr Lewin’s report for 1928-29 it is recorded that under date November 17, 1928, the Minister of Public Works wrote asking whether the council would “ consider the purchase by the department of the head works and main transmission lines of your Waipori plant at a price,’’ etc. That nails down Dr McMillan’s misstatement regarding the proposed sale of Waipori. The pipe lines began to slip in June, 1929, seven months later, as recorded on page 139 of Mr Lewin’s report for 1929-30. That record further bowls out Cr McMillan’s misstatement. I was always a strong opponent of any proposal to sell Waipori, but I like a fair deal and consider it my duty to those city councillors who served the city so faithfully for many years to see that their memory is not blackened. Will Dr McMillan with-draw?-—I am, etc., May 13. James J. Marlow.