STATE CONTROL.

Pahiatua Herald, 29 September 1936, Page 5

STATE CONTROL.

ELECTRICAL CHANGE OVER.

SOUTHLAND TAKES A POLL.

Electric Telegraph—Press Association INVERCARGILL, Past Night. Control of the electrical power supply in Southland will in future be vested in the Government. A postal referendum among ratepayers extending over some three weeks and completed to-day, resulted in an overwhelming majority in favour of the State control as against the retention of the scheme by the present authority, the Southland Electric Power Board. The polling resulted as follows: For control by the Govern ment '. 7993 For retention of the scheme by the board 2748 Informal 982 The reason for the high percentage of informal \ otes is stated to be that the papers were not signed on tiie special space provided for that purpose. Much interest was taken in the ballot but because it was spread over a long period and was conducted by post, it did not produce the enthusiasm that might have marked a campaign ended Ijj personal visits to the polling booth on one day. The Minister of Finance, Efon. W. Nash, in a telephone interview to-night, congratulated the ratepayers of Southland on the result of the referendum. It was evident, he said, chat the advantages that would accrue to Southland, had been recognised. The Government would take immediate steps to give effect to its policy as placed before the ratepayers. The chairman of the Southland Electric Power Board, Mr J. T. Carswell, said that, in his opinion, the Government had received a wonderful bargain in securing Southland’s electrical undertaking with its ann lal gross revenue of £146,000 for the mere taking over of the board’s liabilities. The scheme had reached paying point and the land rate which “loaded the dice” against the board was occasioned solely by the high rate of the sinking fund, 4.1 per cent