WAIROA POWER BOARD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19333, 25 May 1937, Page 2

WAIROA POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING A LONG DISCUSSION CONTENTIOUS MATTERS (llerahl Correspondent.) At the monthly meeting of the Wairoa Power Board yesterday there wore present. Messrs. J. Corkill, chairman pro tom, Al. R. Shaw, 1). D. Pryde, 11. L. Ilarker, F. Steed, El 11. 'Glendining, T. Davev and A. T. Carroll. Air" H arkcr referred to the fact thatowing to the refusal of access to certain papers he had had to give notice of his intention to seek other means of asserting his rights as a ratepayer. The chairman repeated the former statement thatthe document had been handed to the special committee, and there was no other idea in holding the document hack. -Air. Barker said lie would like to pay tribute to the secretary. Mr. B. G. Signal!, for the tact he had displayed. Following the reading of the Prime Minister's appeal in connection with the King George V memorial fund. Mr. Barker said that when the Borough Council suggested that the local body donations should range up to £SO there was no idea of setting the pace, as had been done elsewhere. He had seen the county chairman, Air. A. G. Nolan, and the latter had said that lie thought £25 would he all right. Mr. Davy disagreed, and asked when all this giving at the expense of the ratepayers was to end. Mr. Carroll was sympathetic as the Hospital Board would get it- hack in improved health and less hospital cases; lie favoured £25. Air. Davev moved to make the grant. £lO, hut an amendment, by Mr. Carroll for £25 was carried.

The district electrical engineer, Palmerston North, advised that, abnormal peaks due to the use of special illuminations during Coronation week would bo disregarded for the quarterly power accounts. —The letter was received. Supply for Crown Tenants The Commissioner of Crown Lands advised that in the case of electricity supply to Crown tenants, there would be- no objection to the hoard removing its lilies and fittings in the event of the guarantor failing to keep up payments under the guarantee.—A letter of thanks is to he sent to the commissioner.

The Wellington Electrical and Workers' Union notified that the present electrical workers’ award had expired and inquired if the hoard was prepared to meet the union in conference to frame new wages and conditions, or whether it would j)refer to refer the whole matter to the conciliation council for settlement-. —After some discussion, it was decided lo have the award made by conference with the union.

The finance committee reported a final settlement, with Alessrs. Smith Bros, and Annots, and in favour of applying for an Ordcr-in-Council to raise, the' balance £SCCO, of the .CIO'.CCO loan.—The report was adopted.

In connection with the provision of a light, at. the corner of the WaikokopuOpoutama road, it, was stated that, the Wairoa County Council was giving £3 per annum and settlers had offered Hie other £1 10s. Air. Barker thought the settlers might not, to he asked to contribute to a public utility.—lt. was stated Unit they were not- asked, and it was decided that, the chairman should interview the. county chairman, with power to act.

Accounts totalling £2559, including £l6lß for power, were passed for pay. meat.

Bulk Account Dispute

A loiter was read from the Wairoa Borough Council advising that the hoard’s letter requesting that, the council submit the- names of suitable persons to act as arbitrator in the hulk power accounts dispute has been referred to the council’s electricity committee for a report.—This is to he dealt with later.

A deputation from the Wairoa Borough Council waited on the hoard in connection with questions asked hy the council relating to the shut down of power on the morning of December 31, 1 DBG. The deputation, comprising Alessrs. AL .T. Gemmell, j-\ Berry, W. limes, borough engineer, and the town clerk, Air. If. H. O 'Loughlen, was int roduced by Mr. If. L. Hark or. The shut, down, it was stated, had caused a, loss of £3O to Air. J. Osier, baker, through no notice having -been given to him. The hoard, lie said, had replied to the council’s request for an answer to certain questions that the hoard had done the best thing under the circumstances. Mr. Gemmell was the only member of the deputation to speak, and endorsed what the previous speaker had said.

The acting-chairman, Air. J. Corkill, said the matter of replying was left to the financee committee, and generally the two engineers worked well together. The chairman added tiiat he could not reply just now, hut he would support Air. Ilarker getting the information asked for, but lie would like the matter held over till the chairman, AD. C. V. Chamberlain, was present. This was agreed to, and later it was decided that, the matter should lie held over until next meeting, the finance committee to report then. Poll Petition. A letter was read from the Borough Council, drawing attention lo the action of an nflioor of the board in using the hoard’s car to canvass for signatures lo a request, for a poll to be taken on the council’s proposal lo raise a loan of! £2OOO hy special order, and doing so in the hoard’s time. An explanation was asked. The chairman: Perhaps the engineer could explain. According to the law of the country lie. had every right to oppose the issue of a loan without a poll. The engineer said he acted in his position as a ratepayer and not in the hoard’s ear, or in the board’s time. Mr. Ilarker contended that the engineer was on duty for seven days a week.

The* ongineei- s:ii,l lie could take time oIT, and tie did, but did not carry round the petition in the board’s time, and had not used (lie board’s car a yard. Mr. Marker contended that llio argument of not doing this in the hoard’s time might just as well apply to another ollicer and he then gave a list of the persons m whom llio engineer went. Following further discussion tin* engineer replied that he had not taken up tlie board’s lime or used t tie board’s car. .Mr. Marker contended that the council was entitled to u reply to its letter.

The chairman moved, and Mr. Steed seconded, to reply to tlie council that the engineer had been advised Unit lie should not have done as alleged as

.such was not the wish of the board in future. The motion was carried, an amendment by Mr. Darker lapsing for want of a seconder. Mr. Darker had his vote recorded against the motion.