THE POWER BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 18969, 16 June 1923, Page 5

THE POWER BOARD

FARMERS IN CRITICAL MOOD SOME ADVERSE COMMENT - . * A brief discussion in regard to the Southland Electric Power scheme took place last evening in connection with the submission of the following remit to the Provincial Conference of the Farmers’ Union by the Mataura Island Branch:—“That the sub-Com-mittee’s report to the Provincial Executive regarding operations and policy of the Southland Power Board be tabled for discussion.” In recommending the adoption of the remit, Mr Couser stated that he was afraid the position of the country ratepayers (the farmers), was rather a precarious one, in regard to the scheme, because not only had the boroughs secured the voting power on the board, but the chairman also represented those interests. In consequence the farmers would be up to their neck in the scheme and as that was the last opportunity they would have of voicing their opinion, he thought they should do so. He was prepared to move a motion that those persons who had signed an agreement to take the power, but were not yet wired up, should be advised to cancel their agreement, until they were certain where they stood with regard to the scheme. Personally he thought that there had been misrepresentation on the part of the Board with regard to the rating question and that being so they were in accordance with a recent legal action quite within their rights when misrepresentation had taken place, as he believed was the case in the present in* stance, to do as he had suggested and apply for the alleged “bargain” to be cancelled. Mr Crampton suggested that the farmers were in no better position to-day than they were six months ago as to what liability on their part they were committed to.

Mr R. Arnott stated that to do as had been suggested was not fair to those consumers who had already been connected up and were receiving the power. It was a case of one half going back On the other. He thought they should have a full conference with the Power Board on the question and enable it to go ahead and make the best of a bad job if matters were as some, speakers attempted to show. It was not going to do one bit of good discussing the matter in its entirety at that conference. Mr Johnston said that, he was of opinion that they apparently had no way of escape. They had been led into the scheme which had already involved an expenditure of over .£500,000 by an optimist, who apparently now realised that a failure was practically certain. As an amendment to the remit, he would move that the conference should take steps to obtain a legal Opinion on the question of what right those persons who had not yet signed an agreement to take the power when available had to refuse to do so. Mr Couser said he would ask leave to withdraw the original remit and second Mr Johnson’s amendment. Mr Heenan, as a member of the Board, stated that the Board was endeavouring at present to get back on the lines of the original scheme. He thought that if it was placed before the fanners again now they would be prepared to vote it out, and he would do the same. He was pleased to say that the present Board had some levelheaded men as members who would see that the farming community generally got a fair and square deal. He might say that Mr Adam Hamilton had submitted an important proposal to a recent meeting in regard to the rating aspect of the matter, and this was at present receiving the consideration of a special committee consisting of Messrs Hamilton and Macalister and the chairman. The Board had also dealt with the question that the original scheme should be carried out to the full extent. Mr Bacon said that one question they particularly wished to see settled was that with regard to the rating system to be introduced. If it was going to be on the capital value, then the farming community would be in a bad way, but if a modified scheme were adopted then he thought they would be all right. Mr Johnson’s amendment, the original remit having been withdrawn, was then put to the meeting and carried.