SOUTHLAND POWER BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3830, 9 August 1927, Page 59

SOUTHLAND POWER BOARD.

RATEPAYERS SEEK RELIEF.

MINISTER’S FAVOURABLE REPLY. WELLINGTON, August 5. A deputation representative of all the local bodies of Southland arrived in Wellington this morning for the purpose of placing the claims of the ratepayers in the Southland Power Board area before the Government. The deputation, accompanied by all the Southland members of Parliament, waited upon the Minister of Public Works (Mr K. S. Williams), who had with him the head of the electrical department. Mr Adam Hamilton introduced the deputation, the chief speakers of which were Messrs Neidcrer, Millar, M’Dougall, M’Gregor, and Sir Joseph Ward. The main request of the deputation was to get some immediate financial assistance from the Government, either Dy taking over part of the debt or by paying the interest and sinking fund on part of tho. loan for a number of years. The Minister’s reply was sympathetic, and he gave the deputation every reason to believe that its request would receive the very careful and favourable consideration of the Government, even though it| may not be possible to do all that was. requested. A second deputation, which consisted of. a small number of the earlier deputation, and which represented the non-reticulated ratepayers within the Power Board area, also waited on tlm Minister. The speakers were Messrs Blatch, Derrit, Hamilton, Cochran, and M’Dougall. Their request was for relief to those ratepayers to whom the current was not available. They considered that they were justly entitled to immediate relief from almost the whole of the rate charged by the Power Board, as they received no benefit whatever from) the scheme. The Minister replied that he understood the position, and was intending to introduce amending legislation for the purpose of simplifying the rating powers of the Electric Power Boards Act. This would have the effect of enabling the different power boards to put into practical effect their desire to relieve the non-reticulato<li portion of their ratepayers. Both deputations thanked the Minister for giving them so much of his rime, and assured him that they appreciated the manner in which they were received and for his favourable and encouraging replies.