COMMITTEE DISSOLVES

Southland Times, Issue 20003, 18 October 1926, Page 6

COMMITTEE DISSOLVES

NON-RffnCULATED RATEPAYERS. A meeting of non-reticulated ratepayers was held in the Y.M.C.A. rooms on Saturday morning. Mr E. K. Sim presided over a small attendance. The secretary Mr T. Cochran stated that in view of the decision given in the test case in the Magistrate’s Oourt their solicitor (Mr Eustace Russell) had refused to go any further into the matter. It did not seem at all likely that any good would be done by taking the test case to the Supreme Oourt. The num of £5O 15/6 had been collected from supporters and after liabilities had been met they would be left with a credit balance of £2 15/6 although many subscriptions which had been promised were yet outstanding. It would be unwise, however, to disband as a Power Board official had stated that it would be impossible to sift out the reticulated ratepayers from the Don-re-ticulated areas in order to give relief to the latter.

One of those present voiced the opinion that if the rating were kept up it was time they had representation on the board. “We have a sort of representation, n he said, “but do good has come of it.” The following resolution was passed on the motion of Mr Sim seconded by Mr Baird—That in view of the assurance given by the Southland Eleetric Power Board that the reticulated and non-reticu-lated areas are to be defined and relief given to those not receiving power for next year this meeting of non-reticulated ratepayers will take no further action in the meantime. It was further decided that in the event of no further meeting being called for a term of twelve months the secretary be authorised to hand over any balance of funds to the Salvation Army. A vote of thanks to the secretary for hia untiring work concluded the meeting.